Northern Ireland 1 Croatia 0 (AET) – Northern Ireland win 2-1 on aggregate
Northern Ireland’s Lauren Wade celebrates her winning goal against Croatia
Northern Ireland’s Danielle Maxwell holds off Croatia’s Ivana Rudelic
Northern Ireland’s Connie Scofield tries to win possession back from Croatia’s Bianca Galic
Midfielder Lauren Wade struck deep into extra-time at Windsor Park to finally see off a stubborn Croatia side and set up a final Play-Off meeting with Norway for a place at Euro 2025.
The Hearts star rifled home with six minutes remaining in the second-half of extra-time to seal the win for Tanya Oxtoby’s women and take them one step away from a second consecutive Euros appearance.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg a week ago, Simone Magill was the closest to deciding it when she hit the crossbar early in the first half but neither side could strike in regulation.
Instead, Wade was the winner in extra-time to secure a rematch with the Norwegians, with a place in Switzerland next year on the line.
Relive all the action on our LIVE blog below!
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Last throesNorthern Ireland are holding on well for now, only a few more seconds to play out…Added timeTwo minutes for Tanya Oxtoby’s women to hold on!One minute remainingNorthern Ireland aren’t exactly hanging on for dear life or anything but Croatia have definitely taken control of the tie.What. A. Strike!
She’s just been denied a glorious goal by Doris Bacic but from the resulting corner she slams in one that’s equally as good to put Northern Ireland firmly in the driving seat to win this game!
The set piece is headed away by Croatia but it’s worked back across the face of the box to Danielle Maxwell down the right-hand side. Her cross is low and cleared away by Kristina Nevrkla but it’s straight to the feet of Wade, who takes one touch and lashes her shot from outside the box right into the top corner to leave Bacic with no chance!
What a wonderful save from Doris Bacic!
It’s Wade who gets the effort away from the left edge of the box after a mazy run from Chloe McCarron, who lays the ball off to her team-mate to shoot, but Bacic gets a firm palm on the ball to put it over the bar for the corner with Louise McDaniel lurking for any potential rebound!
A brilliant opportunity for the visitors as Ivana Rudelic gets to the by-line and pulls the ball back for Lubina completely unmarked on the penalty spot, but the striker can’t find the back of the net as the three Northern Irish defenders of McKenna, Rafferty and Holloway collapse around the ball to block it!
Give them credit, both sides are going for this in the dying stages rather than just sitting back.
So nearly an own goal from Rebecca McKenna!
A shot across the face of goal deflects off the defender and nearly spins across the line but she manages to recover and clear it just in the nick of time! That close to a Croatian goal!
Added timeOne extra minute.
Another dangerous delivery for Danielle Maxwell but once again it’s dealt with by the Croatian defence.
Maja Joscak twists and turns on the edge of the box, her shot is deflected off the leg of Laura Rafferty… just wide!
Izabela Lojna comes across to take the corner and it’s headed just over by Joscak!
Added timeThere will be four extra minutes for someone to try and get a winner.So close to a late winner for Northern Ireland!
The free-kick into the box is delivered to the back post, there’s McPartlan to win the header and it’s flashed across the face of goal where Louise McDaniel nearly taps it in!
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Publish date : 2024-10-29 09:47:00
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