NORTHERN IRELAND 1 CROATIA 0
(First leg 1-1; NI win 2-1 on aggregate)
Pictures by BOB HALL
LAUREN Wade’s wonder goal helped Northern Ireland’s senior women’s team across the line against Croatia in Belfast.
Wade’s superb strike in extra time was enough to earn Tanya Oxtoby’s side a 1-0 win and set up a play-off against Norway for a place at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
The goal came in the 114th minute of a game in which gilt-edged chances were few and far between.
Croatia played much better in the second leg of the round one play-off than they did on Friday when the teams drew 1-1 in Varazdin.
Returning midfielder Tea Krznaric drove them forward and they actually created more chances than the home side.
But, in front of 3935 fans at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland dug deep and grabbed the victory as penalties loomed.
Oxtoby made two changes to the side that started the first leg. Joely Andrews, who missed the game in northern Croatia through illness, came into the midfield, while Casey Howe, who was a sub in Varazdin, was a starter this time.
Defender Rachel Dugdale, who was injured during Friday’s game, was unavailable, while Keri Halliday dropped to the bench.
Croatia made only one change, Krznaric coming in for Petra Mikulica.
The first chance of the game fell to Howe, who fizzed a shot over the crossbar, and not long after that she dragged a shot wide.
Simone Magill, donning the armband for the first time after being named as long term captain, hit the woodwork in the 10th minute. The ball was flicked on to her by Rebecca McKenna and the skipper smashed the ball against the bar from six yards.
Down the other end Jackie Burns made a fine stop with her feet from Ivana Rudelic’s low drive after the Croatia striker had raced clear of the Northern Ireland defence.
The Northern Ireland keeper was called into action again when she comfortably held on to a deflected shot from Petra Pezelj.Krznaric steered a couple of efforts wide as Croatia tried to craft an opener.
Northern Ireland midfielder Brenna McPartlan scooped a shot well wide before McKenna’s deflected low shot was pushed around the post by Croatia keeper and captain Doris Bacic.
Andrews had a shot blocked as half-time approached, while a dangerous Danielle Maxwell delivery into the area just evaded Connie Scofield.Magill shot weakly into the side netting as Northern Ireland began the second half on the front foot.
Burns did well to smother a close range strike from Krznaric as Croatia threatened on the break once again.
McKenna burst through the Croatian defence at the edge of the area and let fly from six yards, however Bacic managed to divert her on-target shot into the side netting with her foot.
McPartlan fired over the top as Northern Ireland continued to press, however Burns was called into action again to push away a rising shot from Izabela Lojna, the scorer of both goals in Friday’s game.
Then Burns came through a sea of bodies to punch away a dangerous corner fromLojna.On 85 minutes Maxwell floated in a free-kick which was met by McPartlan, however her header back across the goalmouth dropped past the far post.
Then substitute Emily Wilson’s low cross into the danger zone was smothered by Bacic.In added time Burns gathered a drive from Pezelj and that was the last of the action in regulation time.
So it was on to extra time, and on came Natalie Johnson from the bench to earn her first senior cap.
The first chance of the extra period was fashioned by Croatia. Maja Joscak’s deflected shot just went past the post. And from the resulting corner Joscak guided a header just over the bar.
Johnson eventually managed to scramble the ball off the line as a shot from Janja Canjevac beat Burns and looked to be heading into the bottom corner.
Minutes later there was more excellent defending as Croatia piled forward and substitute Anela Lubina fired a shot goalwards which was blocked by a couple of defenders.Bacic produced an excellent save to keep out a rasping shot from Wade in the 111th minute.
But Wade did not miss with her next effort three minutes later. A Maxwell cross was cleared by Croatian midfielder Bianca Galic and Wade nipped in front of another Croatian player as it dropped just outside the area. She then blasted the ball home from 19 yards. It was a wonderful finish into the top corner.
Wilson threatened to make it two, after gliding past a couple of players inside the area, however Bacic managed to stop her before she got a shot away.
However, Northern Ireland had done enough to set up a two-legged play-off final against the Norwegians, who defeated Albania 14-0 on aggregate in their round one play-off.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna, Lauren Wade, Rebecca Holloway, Laura Rafferty, Brenna McPartlan, Danielle Maxwell, Joely Andrews, Simone Magill (captain), Connie Scofield, Casey Howe. Substitutes: (used) Louise McDaniel, Chloe McCarron, Emily Wilson, Natalie Johnson, Kelsie Burrows; (unused) Rachael Norney (GK), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (GK), Megan Bell, Abi Sweetlove, Keri Halliday, Ellie Mason, Rachel McLaren.
Croatia: Doris Bacic (captain), Petra Pezelj, Ana Jelencic, Kristina Nevrkla, Janja Canjevac, Bianca Rose Galic, Tea Krznaric, Maja Joscak, Ana Maria Markovic, Ivana Rudelic, Izabela Lojna. Substitutes: (used) Petra Mikulica, Anela Lubina, Jelena Dordic, Tea Vracevic; (unused) Ana Filipovic (GK), Nika Radolovic (GK), Barbara Zivkovic, , Lucia Orkic, Helena Spajic, Antonia Dulcic, Maria Kunstek, Karla Jedvaj.
Laura Rafferty’s 50th appearance, marked by IFA President Conrad Kirkwood
