Northern Ireland Women v North Macedonia (29/11/2021)

SENIOR WOMEN’S TEAM DRAW WITH AUSTRIA Northern Ireland’s senior women’s team produced a superb performance to draw 2-2 with Austria Women in a FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifier in Belfast last month. And it could have been even better. Kenny Shiels’ side were leading 2-1 after 90 minutes but the Austrians, second seeds in European Qualifying Group D behind England, scored deep into added time to secure a point .

Burns kept out a Marie Therese Hobinger drive before producing a superb double save on 81 minutes. Firstly she saved at Dunst’s feet 12 yards out and then she pushed away Zadrazil’s follow-up shot . Jessica Foy, who along with Emma McMaster was a late addition to the squad following the four withdrawals, came on with five minutes of regulation time remaining to shore things up. Austria continued to push forward. Puntigam blasted in a long range effort which was tipped over by Burns before Nicole Billa smashed a shot against the bar. It was all hands on deck at this stage as Austria turned the screw, and Northern Ireland could not hold out . Two minutes into added time Carina Wenninger launched the ball into the area and substitute Enzinger was on hand to head the ball over Burns into the net . It was a real sucker punch. Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna, Demi Vance, Sarah McFadden, Julie Nelson, Kelsie Burrows, Marissa Callaghan (captain) , Rachel Furness, Kirsty McGuinness, Kerry Beattie, Lauren Wade. Substitutes: (used) Simone Magill , Jessica Foy, Emily Wilson; (unused) Becky Flaherty (GK) , Maddison Harvey-Clifford, Rachel McLaren, Emma McMaster, Louise McDaniel , Joely Andrews, Ciara Watling. Austria: Manuela Zinsberger, Laura Wienroither, Virginia Kirchberger, Carina Wenninger (captain) , Verena Hanshaw, Sarah Puntigam, Katharina Naschenweng, Sarah Zadrazil , Nicole Billa, Marie Therese Hobinger, Barbara Dunst . Substitutes: Vanessa Gritzner (GK) , Jasmin Pal (GK) , Celina Degen, Viktoria Pinther, Maria Plattner, Katharina Schiechtl , Laura Feiersinger, Marina Georgieva, Jasmin Eder, Katja Wienerroither, Annabel Schasching, Stefanie Enzinger. Words: Nigel Tilson

Northern Ireland, who had Chloe McCarron, Caragh Hamilton, Nadene Caldwell and Laura Rafferty pulled from the squad hours before kick-off due to Covid protocols, put in an unbelievable shift in front of 2,350 spectators at Seaview. Austria were the better team in the first half and went in 1-0 up at the break through a Barbara Dunst strike. However, the home side were full of energ y in the second period and deservedly went ahead thanks to cracking goals from Lauren Wade and Demi Vance. But the visitors piled on the pressure towards the end and grabbed the leveller through substitute Stefanie Enzinger. During the early exchanges Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns saved well from Sarah Puntigam and Katharina Naschenweng. On the half-hour mark Burns turned a Barbara Dunst free- kick around the post , however Austria took the lead on 42 minutes when Dunst got on the end of a clever pass from Sarah Zadrazil and stroked the ball home. Just 47 seconds after the restart Wade scored a peach of an equaliser. Rachel Furness launched a long pass over the top and Wade ran on to it before neatly stroking it past Manuela Zinsberger into the bottom corner. And Northern Ireland’s second goal was even better. In the 50th minute Demi Vance stepped up to take a free-kick from 35 yards and placed it superbly into the top corner.

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26-10-2021 SEAVIEW STADIUM, BELFAST

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