PA Sport Staff
The Republic of Ireland fell to a first defeat in their Uefa Women’s Nations League campaign as they were hammered 4-0 by Slovenia in Koper.
Three first-half goals including two for Lara Prasnikar did the damage against Carla Ward’s side, who had started the competition with a 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday.
The Slovenians dominated the opening exchanges and opened the scoring after just three minutes when Prasnikar raced through to fire past Courtney Brosnan.
Ireland rallied, with Denise O’Sullivan and Heather Payne both bringing saves out of Zala Mersnik while Amber Barrett hit the side-netting.
But they were undone by a quickfire double around the half-hour mark, with Prasnikar volleying home from a corner before Zara Kramzar added the third six minutes later.
It could have been worse for Ireland, with Brosnan making a vital save to deny Maja Sternad just before the interval.
Ireland responded well after the break and produced plenty of pressure, with Kyra Carusa heading just wide before Katie McCabe had a long-range effort superbly saved by Mersnik.
Substitute Nina Kajzba completed a miserable night for the visitors when she curled her side’s fourth low past Brosnan with eight minutes remaining.
Both Carusa and McCabe had changes to grab a consolation goal in injury time but they were once again denied by an inspired Mersnik in the Slovenia goal.
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