NORTHERN Ireland’s senior women’s team battled hard to secure a 1-1 draw against Croatia in Varazdin on Friday night.
Tanya Oxtoby’s side dominated possession in the first of two UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 play-off matches against the Croatians.
But they had to rely on an own goal in second half injury time to grab the draw after Croatia had netted an early penalty.
Northern Ireland had 13 attempts on goal compared to the home side’s seven efforts in the first leg of the round one play-off at the Stadion Varteks.
Croatia took the lead in Varazdin after just four minutes. Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns got in a tangle with striker Ivana Rudelic inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.
Izabela Lojna blasted the penalty into the top corner to make it 1-0 to the home side.Northern Ireland almost hit back immediately. Danielle Maxwell fired a cross towards the six-yard box and fellow attacker Simone Magill flicked the ball off the underside of the bar.
Then centre back Laura Rafferty, who was wearing the captain’s armband as she reached the 50-caps milestone for her country, had an on-target shot which deflected off Croatia defender Kristina Nevrkla and dropped the wrong side of the post.
Midfielder Connie Scofield headed over the top before Keri Halliday delivered a dangerous cross into the area which was met by Magill, however her shot also went over the bar.
The game became a little scrappy before Croatia right back Petra Pezelj fired an effort well over the bar, while Lauren Wade’s drive was comfortably held by Bacic.
A Wade free-kick was cleared for a corner before another delivery into the danger zone was held by the keeper as McPartlan looked set to pounce on the loose ball.
After the break Croatia seemed happy to defend in numbers and try to blunt Northern Ireland’s attack.Bacic gathered crosses from Maxwell and Wade in quick succession as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.
The Croatia keeper handled well again from a Maxwell cross as Tanya Oxtoby’s side dominated possession.
McKenna reached the bye-line after a strong run and pulled the ball back into space, however there was no-one there to get on the end of it.
Then Rebecca Holloway fired a free-kick inches wide of the post from 30 yards out, while substitute Casey Howe blasted an effort well over the top.
Another substitute, Louise McDaniel, found Howe down the flank, however the striker’s crisp delivery was grabbed by Bacic.
Defender Rachel Dugdale took a kick to the face and had to be replaced by Kelsie Burrows.Minutes later Rudelic managed to slip past Burrows and fired a shot just off target.In injury time Bacic clawed away a dangerous corner from Maxwell before Northern Ireland equalised in the 92nd minute.
McDaniel took a corner and slipped the ball to Howe who cut inside Pezelj and clipped in a cross to the near post. Lojna, the scorer of Croatia’s goal, got a foot to the ball and diverted it past Bacic who could not keep it out of the net.
The own goal means it’s all square as the two teams now turn their attention to the second leg, which is being staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Tuesday (29 October) at 7pm.
Tickets for that game are available at irishfa.com/tickets.
Croatia: Doris Bacic (captain), Petra Pezelj, Ana Jelencic, Kristina Nevrkla, Bianca Rose Galic, Maja Joscak, Ana Maria Markovic, Janja Canjevac, Ivana Rudelic, Izabela Lojna, Petra Mikulica. Substitutes: (used) Antonia Dulcic, Jelena Dordic; (unused) Ana Filipovic (GK), Nika Radolovic (GK), Barbara Zivkovic, Tea Vracevic, Lucia Orkic, Ivana Slipcevic, Helena Spajic, Maria Kunstek, Karla Jedvaj, Anela Lubina.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna, Rebecca Holloway, Rachel Dugdale, Laura Rafferty (captain), Brenna McPartlan, Danielle Maxwell, Connie Scofield, Simone Magill, Keri Halliday, Lauren Wade. Substitutes: (used) Louise McDaniel, Megan Bell, Casey Howe, Kelsie Burrows; (unused) Rachael Norney, Maddy Harvey-Clifford, Chloe McCarron, Ellie Mason, Emily Wilson, Rachel McLaren, Natalie Johnson.
