Abbie Larkin scored a decisive 90th-minute goal as the Republic of Ireland stunned Belgium to earn promotion to League A with a 5-4 aggregate win in the Nations League play-off.

The Republic held a 4-2 lead from the first leg in Dublin thanks to an inspired performance from captain Katie McCabe.

However, it was Belgium's leader Tess Wullaert, on her 150th cap, who scored twice in Leuven to level the tie on the night.

Substitute Larkin would have the final say as she spun in the area and dinked the ball over Nicky Evrard in the Belgian goal to spark wild celebrations.

The win over 180 minutes means McCabe celebrated her 100th Irish cap with an immediate return to League A for the Irish, who will now be guaranteed a play-off for the 2027 World Cup no matter what happens in qualifying.

Irish manager Carla Ward had spoken of her expectation that Belgium would come flying out of the blocks in Leuven after they were blown away by the Irish in Dublin.

But it was the Republic who should have taken an early lead when an unmarked Caitlin Hayes sent a header wide from McCabe's cross.

Belgium, who defeated European champions England in the Nations League in the spring, grew into the game and began to pile pressure on, but the visitors had another chance to take the lead when Nicky Evrard spilled the ball in the area from a corner.

Hayes' header found Aoife Mannion, whose powerful drive was touched by the recovering Belgian goalkeeper before Jarne Teulings hacked the ball off the line.

But Belgium took the lead on the night through Wullaert, who finished a flowing Belgian move in the 33rd minute.

There was some neat play and Laura Deloose's low ball to the back post found Wullaert and the captain swept the ball into the bottom corner.

Things got even better for the hosts when Wullaert grabbed her second of the game five minutes before the break.

Hayes gave away possession just outside the area and the in-form Inter Milan forward spotted Grace Moloney off her line and lobbed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and into the net.

Amber Tysiak headed wide early in the second half but from there it was the Republic who looked the more likely to get the crucial next goal.

Emily Murphy forced Evrard into a strong save and the PSV goalkeeper was called into action again from Marissa Sheva's low effort.

Larkin, minutes after coming on as a substitute, dragged an effort wide from a good position in the area, and Kyra Carusa called Evrard into action again with a low and powerful effort.

But Larkin would make up for that miss when the ball fell to her in the area and she showed superb composure to dink the ball over Evrard.

There was a late scare as Sari Kees hooked over from a corner, but it was the Irish players who were left to celebrate in front of the travelling support in Belgium.

While Tuesday's performance wasn't quite as barnstorming as in Friday's 4-2 win, promotion to League A shows the Republic of Ireland are back on track after missing out on Euro 2025.

Led superbly by Katie McCabe on her 100th cap, it was a mature performance as they were a calm presence against an aggressive Belgium team who had it all to do.

Carla Ward had spoken about her belief that the Republic belong in the top tier, and they more than deserved their place over 180 minutes.

The win in Dublin was one of their finest in recent years - possibly since their World Cup play-off win in Scotland three years ago - but the game in Belgium showed a resilience and desire to return to the top table.

It would have been easy for the Republic to collapse after Tessa Wullaert's double, the second of which was self-inflicted and left the visitors shell-shocked.

But they rallied and regrouped at half-time, and had chances to go ahead in the tie before Larkin's memorable effort.

Being in League A gives the Irish another chance to test themselves against some of the top sides in Europe, but it also gives that safety net ahead of World Cup qualifying with the guarantee of a play-off.

The top side in League A will automatically qualify for the finals in Brazil, while second and third will face a first-round play-off against a League C side.

Worst-case, the bottom placed team in League A will face League B opposition in the first round of play-offs for the finals.

The team is very much in transition under Ward, who was only appointed in January, but a superb two legs means they are in the best place to repeat their historic appearance at the World Cup in 2023.

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