Page 29 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.14 2021-22

Nine up for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland 9 North Macedonia 0
Northern Ireland rattled nine goals past North Macedonia in the second part of their World Cup
qualifiers double header. Kenny Shiels’ side were superb once again as they strolled to a 9-0 victory
at Seaview, following on from their record-breaking 11-0 victory over the same opposition in Skopje
on Thursday.
Kirsty McGuinness grabbed a hat-trick, Rachel Furness notched a record breaking double,
Rebecca Holloway also scored two and Simone Magill and Kerry Beattie were on target as well in the
emphatic win.
Magill had the ball in the net after 10 minutes. However, her close range effort, which followed
a slick move involving Demi Vance and McGuinness, was ruled out for offside. Moments later,
Furness produced an excellent defence-splitting pass to McGuinness and she ran on and slotted the
ball in off the far post to make it 1-0.
Lauren Wade drilled a shot over the bar before Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan
blasted a shot just wide of the upright on 18 minutes. Furness had a header cleared off the line by a
North Macedonia defender as Northern Ireland continued to push forward.
Holloway made it two on the half hour mark. Callaghan played the ball forward to Magill who
slipped it into Holloway’s path and she fired the ball into the top corner from 30 yards. It was a fine
hit.
The lively Magill had a header saved on the line before she set up Furness for the third goal.
The midfielder drilled the ball home from 20 yards to break David Healy’s goalscoring record for
Northern Ireland. It was her 37th goal for her country.
McGuinness notched her second with a sublime finish. Magill provided the lay-off once again
as the winger strode forward down the left and she pinged the ball into the top corner from an angle
to make it 4-0.
Wade twisted and turned inside the area and got a shot away, however her effort was snuffed
out by North Macedonia keeper Magdalena Lekovska. Holloway crossed for Wade to tuck the ball into
the net on the stroke of half-time, however her effort was ruled out. Holloway was adjudged to have
drifted offside in the build up.
Fifteen seconds into the second half, Wade missed a good opportunity, blasting a shot over the
top from close range, and McGuinness wriggled free from her marker but her low shot was pushed
away by the keeper.
Magill flicked a header on to the bar, Furness curled a shot wide and then Magill was the
provider once again as Northern Ireland scored their fifth. She played the ball across the face of goal
for McGuinness to slot the ball home and complete her hat-trick in the 62nd minute.
A minute later Holloway grabbed her second. Wade fired in a great cross down the right and
Holloway was on hand at the back post to steer the ball into the net.
Magill produced a lovely piece of skill to bamboozle her marker, however her snapshot drifted
just wide of the post. But she finally got the goal she deserved in the 74th minute. Vance played the
ball to the striker who cleverly slipped past a couple of markers and slotted the ball into the bottom
corner. It was a lovely goal to make it 7-0.
Substitute Kerry Beattie played in Magill and she blasted her shot wide, and Northern Ireland
got goal number eight shortly after. Wade delivered a superb ball to the back post and Furness headed
in her second of the night – to extend her goalscoring record.
Right at the death a Wade cross was spilled by the keeper and Beattie was on hand to score her
first goal at senior international level and complete the rout.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna (sub Joely Andrews 45mins), Demi Vance,
Sarah McFadden (sub Ciara Watling 45mins), Julie Nelson, Rebecca Holloway (sub Caitlin
McGuinness 83mins), Marissa Callaghan (sub Louise McDaniel 65mins), Rachel Furness, Simone
Magill, Lauren Wade, Kirsty McGuinness (sub Kerry Beattie 70mins). Subs not used: Becky
Flaherty, Maddy Harvey-Clifford, Chloe McCarron, Kelsie Burrows, Rachel McLaren, Nadene
Caldwell, Caragh Hamilton.
North Macedonia: Magdalena Lekovska, Ane Boseska, Katerina Mileska, Elma Shemsovikj (sub
Aleksandra Markovska 45mins), Ulza Maksuti, Hava Mustafa (sub Teodora Gjorgjevska 85mins),
Afrodita Salihi (sub Sara Husein 78mins), Elena Petrovska, Teodora Jankovska, Kristina
Petrushevska (sub Sara Velkova 65mins), Ana Milchevska. Substitutes: Verica Kolevska, Kristina
Pavlovska, Sara Kolarovska, Jana Chubrinovska, Viktorija Nedeva, Hristina Joshevska, Radica
Choneva, Elena Paneska.
(irishfa.com)
Issue no. 14 - 2 December 2021 womenssoccerscene@mail.com