Republic of Ireland win Women's Nations League clash with Albania despite a 90-minute delay caused by a waterlogged pitch... as stunned fans claim players needed snorkels amid the torrential downpour

Republic of Ireland earned a 1-0 triumph successful their Women's Nations League match against Albania contempt nan lucifer being delayed for 90 minutes owed to a waterlogged pitch.

The teams played retired a goalless first half astatine the Loro Borici Stadium amid a torrential downpour.

Heavy rainfall began successful nan early stages of nan half amid a thunderstorm, which progressively made nan transportation unplayable arsenic nan lucifer progressed.

The shot was regularly seen stopping successful nan opinionated h2o arsenic half-time approached.

A determination was taken by nan lucifer officials to suspend nan lucifer astatine half-time, pinch crushed unit moving to make nan transportation playable.

'The referee has decided to suspend play for 60 minutes owed to nan upwind conditions,' an Irish FA connection read. 'A determination will past beryllium made whether nan crippled tin beryllium resumed.'

Ground unit removed h2o from nan playing aboveground during nan hold arsenic rainfall eased successful Albania.

The Irish FA later confirmed 'The referee has decided that nan crippled will continue. 

''Should conditions worsen, nan referee will pass some teams arsenic to what nan adjacent people of action will be.'

Fans person criticised nan determination to proceed pinch nan lucifer fixed nan conditions.

'That's unbelievable nan officials haven't called that off, if it was a men's crippled it would person been abandoned aft 30mins,' 1 instrumentality commented.

'There's immoderate communal consciousness needed, referee has to wantonness it astatine half clip surely there's 0 measurement you tin play successful that particularly erstwhile it's obscurity adjacent improving,' different said.

'Absolutely ridiculous expecting players to effort and play successful those conditions. More for illustration a swimming excavation than a shot pitch,' added a third.

'Not helping Women's shot astatine each pinch decisions for illustration this. If that was a men's crippled that would beryllium called off,' wrote a fourth.

Another instrumentality stated: 'Just different time successful women's football. Decisions are baffling but not astonishing astatine this point.'

'Insanity. May get nan players snorkels for nan 2nd half,' a instrumentality wrote.

The Republic of Ireland were chasing a 2nd successive triumph complete Albania, aft earning a 5-1 triumph complete their opponents astatine location past week.

Eileen Gleeson's broadside preserved their 100 per cent grounds successful Group B1 as Denise O'Sullivan scored an 88th infinitesimal victor to unafraid their 4th successive victory.

A tie betwixt Northern Ireland and Hungary successful nan aforesaid group will spot nan Republic of Ireland gain promotion pinch 2 matches to spare.