NORWAY 3 NORTHERN IRELAND 0 (Norway qualify 7-0 on aggregate)
NORTHERN Ireland were defeated 3-0 by Norway in the second instalment of their two-legged UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 play-off finalThe Norwegians, who won the first leg at Larne’s Inver Park by four goals to nil, booked their place at next summer’s Euros in Switzerland with another well-deserved victory at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
Northern Ireland put in a solid, gutsy performance in chilly conditions against star-studded opposition.
Senior women’s team manager Tanya Oxtoby made just one change to the starting 11 from the first leg, with Chloe McCarron replacing Danielle Maxwell.
Norway boss Gemma Grainger made three changes among her starters. Veteran defender Maren Mjelde and Marit B Lund came in to the backline, replacing Tuva Hansen and Mathilde Harviken, while Ada Hegerberg was preferred to Guro Reiten in attack.
The first chance of the game fell to Mjelde, who headed the ball straight at Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns from six yards.
On 13 minutes Norway took the lead when Caroline Graham Hansen, the player of the match in the first leg, netted her 50th international goal.
Graham Hansen picked the ball up down the left flank and raced towards goal.
She jinked her way past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball home from a tight angle.
Minutes later Graham Hansen almost turned provider. She fired a dangerous cross into the area which was guided just past the far post by Hegerberg.
Then Burns pushed out a curling cross from Frida Maanum and the ball was cleared by Rebecca Holloway.Mjelde smashed the ball against the crossbar from close range as the Norwegians continued to press, while Maanum’s follow-up shot was superbly pushed away by Burns.
Rebecca McKenna produced an excellent last ditch clearance as Hegerberg looked set to pounce.
Graham Hansen scooped a shot over the top as the Norwegians launched another attack and then Burns saved a rasping drive from Graham Hansen and a Hegerberg header before Maanum steered a shot wide of the upright.
Northern Ireland had more possession than they had in the first leg, but once they got over the halfway line any threat was quickly snuffed out by the astute Norwegian backline.
Burns raced to the edge of the area to thwart Hegerberg before Norway midfielder Ingrid Engen hit the post with a long range curler.
Northern Ireland’s first clearcut opportunity came just before the interval. Joely Andrews won a tackle and slipped the ball to captain Simone Magill.
She then fed Lauren Wade who let fly from distance, however Norwegian keeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand managed to confidently grab the ball.It was 2-0 to Norway not long after the restart.
Burns played the ball out to McKenna, but Maanum nicked it away from her before drilling it low into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
After that, however, Northern Ireland settled down well. Graham Hansen miscued inside the penalty area before Holloway sliced a shot wide down the other end.
A goal-bound piledriver from Norway substitute Synne Jensen floored Laura Rafferty before a long range strike from Marit B Lund went over the top.
Jensen scored with her next opportunity in the 78th minute. In a counter attack move she raced down the flank and cut inside. Her drive from 12 yards took a wicked deflection off McKenna and looped over Burns into the net.
Just as they did in Larne, the Northern Ireland defence and midfield worked tirelessly throughout the game, closing players down and blocking shots.
In the final stages both sides struggled to create chances and the game petered out as Norway secured their place at Women’s Euro 2025 with a 7-0 aggregate win.
Norway: Cecilie Fiskerstrand, Emilie Woldvik, Maren Mjelde (captain), Marit B Lund, Guro Bergsvand, Ingrid Engen, Karina Saevik, Vilde Boa Risa, Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen, Frida Maanum.
Substitutes: (used) Cathinka Tandberg, Synne Jensen,Marthine Ostenstad, Celin Bizet Ildhusoy, Olaug Tvedten; (unused) Selma Panengstuen (GK), Aurora Mikalsen (GK), Tuva Hansen, Guro Reiten, Justine Kielland,Mathilde Harviken, Emilie Joramo.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna, Rachel Dugdale, Rebecca Holloway, Laura Rafferty, Natalie Johnson, Chloe McCarron, Brenna McPartlan, Simone Magill (captain), Joely Andrews, Lauren Wade.
Substitutes: (used) Emily Wilson, Ellie Mason, Connie Scofield; (unused) Rachael Norney, Maddy Harvey-Clifford, Megan Bell, Keri Halliday, Danielle Maxwell, Kelsie Burrows, Louise McDaniel, Kerry Beattie, Rachel McLaren.
Captain Simone Magill leads out her team while, below, boss Tanya Oxtoby watches on
Jackie Burns was kept busy in goal
