Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.13 2020-21

Northern Ireland 2 (Callaghan 55, Caldwell 90) Ukraine 0
Northern Ireland won 4-1 on aggregate
Northern Ireland sealed their place in next year's UEFA
Women's Euro 2022 Finals in England with a
commanding display and victory at Seaview. The result
was no more than they deserved with an excellent
defensive display when needed and taking their chances
when they came, to round off a 4-1 aggregate victory over
the play-off matches.
Ukraine made four changes from the first leg and
started the match with intent, searching for an early goal
to bring the tie level on aggregate again. However,
Northern Ireland were looking very dangerous from set
pieces and one almost led to them taking a lead, a
scramble from a corner was almost bundled in by Laura
Rafferty. Nadine Caldwell sidefoots home for the second goal
Then Northern Ireland captain Marissa (Irish FA/Press Eye).
Callaghan, who had replaced the injured Rachel Furness
in the number ten role, had a snapshot blocked and a neat through ball from Sarah McFadden just
failed to reach Kirsty McGuinness as she threatened to break free down the left.
On 32 minutes, Northern Ireland striker Simone Magill outpaced the Ukraine defence and fired
in a low drive from an angle which was collected at the near post by Ukrainian keeper Kateryna Samson.
Towards the end of the half, the visitors pushed forward and the home defence had to dig deep
to keep them out. There were some timely blocks and interventions, with the experienced trio of Julie
Nelson, Ashley Hutton and McFadden in the thick of it flanked by Rebecca Holloway and the excellent
Rebecca McKenna, who once again greatly impressed.
Northern Ireland negotiated the spell of pressure and took control of the game in the early
stages of the second half. They were rewarded ten minutes after the restart as they went in front, Nelson
floated a free kick into the area towards Callaghan, who flicked the ball on and turned to touch past the
advancing Samson before sliding it into the empty net from an acute angle.
The visitors pressed to try and get back into the game and rained a number of crosses into the
area but both Nelson and Hutton, using all their experience to great effect, were imperious at the back
and headed most of them clear. Burns' handling was faultless all night when called upon and Northern
Ireland always looked sharp on the break, Chloe McCarron making a great break down the right but just
failed to find Magill with her low centre. McFadden produced a superbly timed challenge to thwart a
Ukraine attack, while Ovdiychuk fired a shot harmlessly over the top.
Ukraine's task was made even harder late on as they were reduced to ten players, Natiya
Pantsulaya being shown a straight red for veering away from the ball and blocking off McFadden as she
was running towards the Ukrainian area.
Ukraine threw all they could but could make no impression against the home defence, for whom
the icing on the cake was yet to come.
Right at the death, Caldwell sealed the win for Northern Ireland. Magill nicked the ball off a
defender and nudged it to the midfielder, who showed great coolness to cleverly round the keeper and
stroke the ball home to spark off wild celebrations and complete an unforgettable night.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca Holloway, Sarah McFadden (sub Toni-Leigh Finnegan
90mins), Julie Nelson, Ashley Hutton, Rebecca McKenna, Marissa Callaghan (sub Nadene Caldwell
90mins), Chloe McCarron, Simone Magill, Laura Rafferty, Kirsty McGuinness (sub Samantha Kelly
85mins). Subs not used: Rebecca Flaherty, Ciara Watling, Emma McMaster, Louise McDaniel, Emily
Wilson, Danielle Maxwell, Kerry Anne Beattie.
Ukraine: Kateryna Samson, Anastasiya Filenko, Olha Basanska, Lyubov Shmatko, Olha Boichenko
(sub Yana Malakhova 75mins), Olha Ovdiychuk, Darya Apanashchenko, Natiya Pantsulaya, Tamila
Khimich, Nadiya Kunina (sub Nicole Kozlova 58mins), Darya Kravets (sub Roksolana Kravchuk
69mins). Subs not used: Daryna Bondarchuk, Iryna Sanina, Iryna Podolska, Iya Andrushchak, Anna
Petryk, Veronika Andrukhiv, Yana Kalinina, Anna Voronina, Anastasiya Voronina.
Issue no. 13 - 15 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk