Albania 0-1 Republic of Ireland: Denise O'Sullivan hits late Irish winner after rain delay

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The Republic of Ireland's Denise O'Sullivan attempts to control the ball on the waterlogged pitch as Albania's Kristina Maksuti is about to make a challengeGetty Images

The torrential rain in Shkoder turned the first half into something of a farce

Denise O'Sullivan netted a late winner for the Republic of Ireland after their Women's Nations League game in Albania was halted for 90 minutes by rain.

The win secured the Republic top spot in Group B1 as they sealed promotion to League A.

Play was suspended at half-time as the pitch in Shkoder became waterlogged following a thunderstorm.

After action eventually resumed, the Republic continued to be frustrated until O'Sullivan's 88th-minute goal.

The Republic went into Tuesday's encounter knowing that they would win the group with two games to spare if they triumphed in Albania and Northern Ireland drew with Hungary in Belfast, which was exactly what happened as it finished 1-1.

After hammering the Albanians 5-1 in Dublin on Friday, the Republic were expected to have little difficulty in Shkoder but the occasion quickly became a frustrating one for Eileen Gleeson's side.

Kyra Carusa, O'Sullivan and Louise Quinn missed early chances for the Republic before the heavens opened, which soon rendered football virtually impossible.

Inpho

Denise O'Sullivan's 88th-minute goal secured the Republic of Ireland victory in Albania

The ball was getting caught up in the surface water on the pitch and indeed the Irish had a lucky escape just before half-time as Albania striker Mimoza Hamidi had a great chance only for the conditions to allow Katie McCabe to make a vital block.

McCabe was among the nominees for the women's award at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris but was unable to travel to the event because of her Republic of Ireland commitments.

With pools of water all around the pitch as the teams made their way off at half-time, it seemed inconceivable that the match would be able to resume on Tuesday but within 90 minutes, the players were back in action.

Following the introductions of Heather Payne and Izzy Atkinson for Sinead Farrelly and Erin McLaughlin, who had been handed her first international start, the Republic display was more assured in the second half although it still appeared as though a goal wasn't going to materialise as a succession of chances came and went.

Albania keeper Viona Rexhepi made brilliant saves to deny Carusa and O'Sullivan, with McCabe heading over pointblank range before home defender Alma Hilaj almost turned a Payne cross into her own net in the 86th minute.

At that stage, the Republic seemed destined to be out of luck but Carusa's pull-back set up O'Sullivan to blast home with two minutes of normal time left to spare the visitors' blushes.

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