FOOTBALL: NI Women slip to final friendly defeat in Spain
Northern Ireland Women 0 Romania 1
Northern Ireland Women ended their three-game Spanish training camp with defeat to Romania.
Having beaten the Faroe Islands 3-1 and then drawing 2-2 with Switzerland in Marbella, Kenny Shiels' side would have been confident going into the game. However, despite dominating the tie, they couldn't find the net.
Shiels made four changes to his starting 11 with Abbie Magee, Laura Rafferty, Nadene Caldwell and Kirsty McGuinness all coming in for Rebecca McKenna, Demi Vance, Kelsie Burrows and Rachel Furness, who started against the Swiss.
Northern Ireland’s first chance came in the 14th minute when Kirsty McGuinness clipped the top of the bar from a free-kick.
Skipper Caldwell’s well-struck shot from outside the area drifted wide of the upright as Northern Ireland produced some bright link-up play, before Lauren Wade headed wide when she got on the end of a McGuinness cross and then Holloway fired past the post.
In the second half, Romania striker Cristina Carp shot over the top before defender Maria Ficzay was wasteful with a free-kick.
At the other end, Rachel Furness steered a shot wide before Romania took the lead minutes later. Carmen Marcu was left unmarked as a corner was delivered into the area and she duly found the net.
Northern Ireland almost hit back when Simone Magill and Furness combined well to set up Wade. However, Ceasar managed to get her fingertips to Wade’s rasping drive and pushed it against the bar and out for a corner.
McCarron then fired the ball over the top from distance as Northern Ireland continued to search for an equaliser.
In the end, the equaliser didn't arrived and Northern Ireland had to be content with a win, draw and a defeat from their three friendlies.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Abbie Magee, Sarah McFadden, Laura Rafferty, Rebecca Holloway, Chloe McCarron, Nadene Caldwell (captain), Marissa Callaghan, Simone Magill, Lauren Wade, Kirsty McGuinness.
Subs used: Rachel Furness, Demi Vance, Megan Bell, Rebecca McKenna, Emily Wilson, Danielle Maxwell, Kerry Beattie
Romania: Camelia Ceasar, Olivia Oprea, Ioana Bortan (captain), Teodora Meluta, Maria Ficzay, Stefania Vatafu, Bianca Sandu, Claudia Bistrian, Mara Batea, Cristina Carp, Carmen Marcu
Substitutes: Andreea Pencea (GK), Lavinia Boanda (GK), Alexandra Tunoaia, Madalina Tatar, Laura Rus, Erika Gered, Andrea Herczeg, Ana Vladulescu