Republic of Ireland hold on to beat Greece
Amber Barrett scored her second goal against Greece in as many matches
- Published
The Republic of Ireland held off a late Greece fightback to win 2-1 in the Nations League at Tallaght Stadium.
Without influential captain Katie McCabe, who was suspended, Carla Ward's side raced into an early lead through Amber Barrett's penalty in the ninth minute.
Defender Anna Patten headed home a second five minutes after half-time to put the Irish in control.
The Republic ran out 4-0 winners in Crete on Friday but this time were tested by the Greeks, who set up a nervy finish through Veatriki Sarri's well-taken effort.
The hosts held on for back-to-back wins and sit second in Group B2 behind leaders Slovenia, who defeated Turkey to maintain their perfect start.
The Republic had been tasked with getting over the line without Arsenal's McCabe, and they got off to a perfect start at a sun-soaked Tallaght Stadium.
Liverpool forward Leanne Kiernan was brought down by Athanasia Moraitou and Barrett, who scored on her 50th cap in Greece on Friday, calmly dispatched the penalty.
Replays seemed to suggest that Kiernan was brought down outside the area, but with no VAR in operation, the original decision by referee Franziska Wildfeuer stood.
Ioanna Papatheodorou dragged an effort wide from range as Greece looked for a response, before Lucy Quinn fired over and Patten headed wide at the other end as the Republic looked comfortable at the break.
There was the perfect start to the second half as Patten headed home Megan Campbell's corner just five minutes after the restart.
It was a third international goal for the Aston Villa defender, who has become a key player in the Irish set-up since making her debut last year.
However, Greece refused to lie down and pressed for a route back into the game.
Sarri tested Everton team-mate Courtney Brosnan from outside of the area, but the midfielder pulled a goal back soon after.
The ball fell to Sarri on the edge of the area and she took a touch and fired an effort low into the bottom corner beyond the diving Brosnan.
Papatheodorou stung the palms of the Irish goalkeeper as Greece pushed for an equaliser, but the Republic ended the game the stronger side and had chances for Quinn and substitute Saoirse Noonan, both from Megan Campbell deliveries.
The victory leaves Ward's side three points behind leaders Slovenia as they look for an immediate route back into League A, and they will be back in action at the end of May with a trip to Turkey and a home game against the Slovenians, who ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture.