The task of taking on Group A leaders Sweden, who are ranked No 2 in the world, was never going to be easy. But Vera Pauw had a game plan that her team executed and that made this an altogether different contest.
The Gamla Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg feel short of a record ceowd with 12,123 spectators turning up to watch the home team ultimately qualify for the World Cup, as they required just a point to go through.
Ireland made it difficult for them to achieve that though. In fact, it was the Girls in Green who held the lead at the interval following Katie McCabe's deflected strike minutes before the half-time whistle sounded.
Up to that point, Ireland held their shape well, worked hard for each other, pressed their opponents at the right time and defended bravely as Sweden tried to find openings that just were not there.
Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan registered a superb performance - pulling off a wonder save in the second half - and Ireland did have some luck on their side as Sweden could not find a finishing touch.
With 11 minutes remaining, Sweden got their goal when Kosovare Asllani kept her cool to fire in from close range following excellent play by Olivia Schough. The home crowd erupted as that was the goal that they needed to secure World Cup qualification.
The point collected moves Ireland onto 10 points with three games still to play - Georgia away, Finland home and Slovakia away. The Play-Offs are very much in sight.
Sweden: Hedvig Lindahl; Linda Sembrant (Fridolina Rolfo 56), Amanda Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson; Hanna Glas (Nathalie Bjorn 76), Hanna Bennison (Filippa Angeldal 56), Caroline Seger, Jonna Andersson; Lina Hurtig (Olivia Schough 76), Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly: Jamie Finn, Ruesha Littlejohn, Denise O’Sullivan, Chloe Mutaki; Lucy Quinn, Katie McCabe; Heather Payne (Leanne Kiernan 74).
Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu (România).