Late Netherlands defeat 'tough to take' - Ward

The Republic of Ireland's 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands in World Cup qualifying is "tough to take", says manager Carla Ward.

Lineth Beerensteyn, who had earlier opened the scoring, touched home the winner from a corner with eight minutes to play to break hopes of a famous result for the Republic of Ireland.

Captain Katie McCabe had brought the Irish level with a penalty early in the second half.

The Republic of Ireland are without a win in their opening two qualifiers after a similar late defeat by France in their opener.

McCabe had said that loss, in which the Republic of Ireland had led until substitute Melvine Malard scored twice, had stung and Ward said Saturday's game in Utrecht was "difficult to take".

"Over the past four or five days we've played two of the best in the world and we've come away from both disappointed that we haven't taken something," Ward told RTE.

"It's disappointing. The players have left everything out there and they've executed the game plan brilliantly.

"We pride ourselves at defending set pieces and there's two moments over the course of the two games that have hurt us."

Ward said that her side responded well from Beerensteyn's opener in the 20th minute but their focus must switch to a crucial double-header with Poland in April.

The top three sides in League A face an easier play-off route for the World Cup and Ward admitted the games against Poland, who have one point from two games, "are massive".

"To come out and react how we did, at that point I was thinking of how we can win the game," she said.

"How far this team has come and developed is huge and we have to keep building.

"It's now about getting points on the board."