FOOTBALL: Northern Ireland Women produce superb display to win away

Northern Ireland Women produced an excellent performance to defeat Czechia 2-0 in an international friendly in Opava last night.

The Czechs are almost 20 places higher than their opponents in the world rankings, however it was Northern Ireland who dominated proceedings and ran out deserved winners thanks to goals in either half from Sarah McFadden and Kerry Beattie.

Northern Ireland interim Manager Gail Redmond made five changes from the 11 that began the 3-0 defeat to Scotland last week, with 19-year-old Mid-Ulster Ladies goalkeeper Lilie Woods making her senior debut.

Simone Magill teed up Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan who fired a shot over the top. Then McFadden scooped a shot well wide as the visitors put the pressure on.

Woods got her hands on the ball for the first time when she confidently raced off her line to collect a Klara Cvrckova cross into the area, before pushing out a drive from Kamila Dubcova.

On 20 minutes Czechia defender Lucie Jelinkova headed inches over the top from a corner.

Five minutes later Northern Ireland took the lead. Vance fired a corner to the back post where McFadden was on hand to head it home.

Just after the half-hour mark, and a much-needed water break, Megan Bell fed Callaghan down the left and her well-struck snapshot from an angle was pushed away by Votikova. Bell then cleverly fired a free-kick across the face of goal but no-one was on hand to get a touch.

Bell had a long range effort, which drifted just wide, as the girls in green and white continued to enjoy lots of possession. At the other end, McFadden superbly blocked a Franny Cerna shot deep inside the area as half-time approached.

Czechia introduced AC Milan striker Andrea Staskova and Chelsea midfielder Katerina Svitkova at half-time in a bid to bolster their attack.

However, Northern Ireland stunned the hosts by grabbing a second on 47 minutes.

A goal-kick from Woods found Bell and she flicked the ball on to Caragh Hamilton, who in turn headed it forward and sped towards goal down the centre of the pitch. Half-time substitute Kerry Beattie ran alongside Hamilton as she punted the ball forward and eventually it fell into the striker's path and she coolly slotted it into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Nadene Caldwell blasted a shot over the bar as Northern Ireland continued to play on the front foot, before Player of the Match Callaghan clipped the ball to the back post to Bell and her close range volley was pushed away by Votikova.

On 79 minutes Hamilton broke clear of the Czechia defence and bore down on goal, however her shot was pushed over the bar by Votikova.

Woods, who had had very little to do during the game, plucked a cross from Czech sub Kristyna Ruzickova out of the air before Svitkova’s shot from distance flew over. Deep into added time another 19-year-old Northern Ireland goalkeeper, Rachael Norney, made her senior debut from the bench.

As the final whistle approached substitute Rachel Furness had a shot blocked inside the area by the Czech defence and that was the last of the action during a great night’s work by the Northern Ireland team, who currently occupy 45th place in the Coca-Cola FIFA Women’s World Ranking list compared to Czechia’s 27th position.

The victory will provide a huge confidence boost for Northern Ireland ahead of their first UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign this autumn.

MATCH STATS

Czechia: Votikova, Peckova, Pochmanova, Jelenkova (Kotrcova 85), Dlaskova (Slajsova 63), Cahynova, Dubcova, Sonntagova (Svitkova H-T), Cerna (Khyrova 63), Zufankova (Staskova H-T), Cvrckova (K Ruzickova 63)

Subs: Lukasova (GK), B Ruzickova (GK), Huvarova, Polcarova, Dedinova.

Northern Ireland: Woods (Norney 90), McKenna, Vance, Holloway (Burrows 81), McFadden, Caldwell, Hamilton, Callaghan (Furness 81), Magill (Beattie H-T), Wilson (Wade 68), Bell (Andrews 81)

Subs not used: Turner (GK), Morgan, McCarron, C McGuinness, Maxwell, McMaster.

Referee: M Diakow (Poland)