Women's Euro 2025 qualifier: Improved Northern Ireland hit top spot

Northern Ireland got their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualification campaign back on track with a well-deserved 3-1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It put the side top of Group B3, for the time being at least, having accrued four points from six in their opening two matches.

Following their disappointing 0-0 home draw with Malta on Friday, the side scored all their goals in the second half through Lauren Wade, Megan Bell and Simone Magill.

Coach Stuart McLaren, who took charge of the team after manager Tanya Oxtoby was unable to travel to Bosnia due to illness, made three changes from the Malta game. Bell, Emily Wilson and Keri Halliday, making her first start, replaced Marissa Callaghan, Caragh Hamilton and Joely Andrews.

The Bosnians, who lost 3-0 away to Portugal in their opening group game on Friday, got off to a bright start at the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Training Centre in Zenica.

After just two minutes Maja Jelcic got on the end of a cross from Marija Milinkovic. She flicked the ball towards goal but Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns managed to make the save just inside the six-yard box.

On 13 minutes, Bell delivered a free-kick to the back post where Nadene Caldwell headed the ball across the face of goal towards striker Magill, however she failed to connect with it properly and Bosnian keeper Envera Hasanbegovic eventually managed to smother.

Very few chances were created in the first half, however it was a different story after the interval.

Northern Ireland took the lead on 54 minutes.

A quick free-kick from Laura Rafferty found Wade down the left flank. She then played a one-two with Halliday, before tucking the ball home with the outside of her boot from 12 yards.

That lead didn't last long as the hosts equalised just two minutes later with Gacanica speeding down the wing and pulling the ball back to the onrushing Milinkovic who found the net from six yards.

Northern Ireland restored their lead on the hour mark when Bell nicked the ball off Bosnia defender Melisa Hasanbegovic and ran forward into the area before firing into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Magill linked well with Halliday and prodded home her fellow striker’s cross, however it was ruled out as she had strayed offside in the build-up.

But the hard-working Magill wouldn't be denied as Northern Ireland extended their lead on 68 minutes.

Substitute Casey Howe had only been on the field for two minutes when she fed the ball to Magill inside the area and the striker drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

Next up for Northern Ireland is a double header against top seeds Portugal. They're away in Leiria on Friday May 31st, before the return game in Northern Ireland on Tuesday June 4th with the venue to be confirmed.

MATCH STATS

Bosnia and Herzegovina: E Hasanbegovic, Sabanagic, Sliskovic, M Hasanbegovic, Krso, Aleksic, Milinkovic, Hadzic, Ekic, Jelcic, Gacanica.

Subs: Todoric (GK), Gvozderac (GK), Veletanlic, Krajsumovic, Rankic, Medic, S Japic, Krajnic, Pajazetovic, C Japic, Smajic, Husic.

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna, Caldwell, Rafferty, McCarron, Vance (Dugdale 66), Wade, Bell (McPartlan 90), Wilson (Howe 66), Halliday (Andrews 77), Magill

Subs not used: Perry (GK), Harvey-Clifford (GK), McLaren, Callaghan, Holloway, Hamilton, McDaniel, Magee