Corner kicks often produce some of the most dangerous scoring opportunities in soccer, but it’s rare to see a corner go directly in. With those set pieces being taken from the corner where the goal line meets the touchline, any goal on a corner itself needs to come with a whole lot of curve on the kick. And that’s just what Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe did in the fourth minute of a FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage match against Canada Wednesday, hitting a curving corner that Canadian keeper Kailen Sheridan got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out:
OH MY GOODNESS, OH MY OLIMPICO 🇮🇪
KATIE MCCABE WHAT A WAY TO SCORE YOUR FIRST GOAL IN A FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP! pic.twitter.com/OFWwbMGd8W
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 26, 2023
That’s quite the shot. And, as Fox Soccer noted there, it was McCabe’s first Women’s World Cup goal. The 27-year-old McCabe, who plays for Arsenal in club soccer, has been cited as one of the most dangerous players in this Ireland lineup, though, and she had 18 national team goals in 74 appearances heading into this clash despite often lining up at left back (including in Ireland’s opening loss against Australia). McCabe (seen at the top in an April friendly against the U.S. women’s team) was moved up to winger for this match, though, and she got Ireland off to a hot start with this superb strike.
This Group B match is an important one for both squads. Canada opened the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Nigeria Thursday, while Ireland fell 1-0 against Australia. So points are critical for both sides. And McCabe’s goal gave Ireland the early edge on getting three points here.
(Update: Canada went on to win 2-1, but, as per Insider, this was the first direct goal from a corner in Women’s World Cup history, and the first in any World Cup since a men’s game in 1962.)
[Fox Soccer on Twitter]
