Northern Ireland v Ukraine

# GAWA UEFAWOMEN’S EURO2022 PLAY-OFF (SECONDLEG) SEAVIEWSTADIUM, BELFAST 13.04.21 19.45 v UKRAINE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME NORTHERN IRELAND

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME On behalf of the Irish Football Association it gives me great pleasure to welcome the players and officials of Ukraine to Seaview in Belfast for this evening's UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 play-off match (second leg).

For both teams it is a hugely important game, which unfortunately has to be played behind closed doors due to ongoing Covid restrictions. Both ourselves and Ukraine are 90 minutes away from securing a place at Women’s Euro 2022, which is being staged in England. For Northern Ireland it is the most significant game in the history of our senior women’s team. They have, of course, already made history by securing a play-off for a major tournament for the first time - and they can now go one better by reaching a final tournament for the first time. The excellent 2-1 victory over Ukraine on Friday was a huge confidence booster. I thought we showed great determination and produced a fine display as we overcame the odds to beat the favourites in their own backyard. Rachel Furness, who has now scored more than 30 times for her country, showed great anticipation to open the scoring, while Simone Magill produced a moment of superb skill while netting the winner. Despite being ahead in the tie, I am sure Kenny Shiels and his players will not be taking anything for granted ahead of this crucial match. The manager will be focused on getting a result at Seaview and he will no doubt be urging his players to give their all in tonight’s encounter.

Great credit must go to Kenny, his backroom staff and the players for taking us this far. It has been quite a journey to date. Let’s hope the meticulous preparation work that goes on behind the scenes will bear fruit once again. Ukraine will be smarting after losing against us in Kovalivka, especially as it was a game they were expected to win. I expect them to have a real go in the second leg and we must be fully focused on thwarting them and making the most of opportunities when they come our way. Naturally, from a Northern Ireland perspective, it would be great to finish the job and play on the big stage in the summer of 2022. Thanks to Crusaders Football Club for placing their Seaview facilities at the disposal of the Association. This is greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoy an exciting game tonight while watching from the comfort of your homes.. David J Martin President Irish Football Association players need to challenge themselves more in terms of their approach play. If we can do that I believe we can get the desired result. It’s easy to forget that our squad is largely made up of part-time players who return to their day jobs after each camp. Our opponents are all full-time professionals, whether in Ukraine or in other parts of Europe. However, as they showed on Friday, our players are willing to work their socks off for each other. Unfortunately we will not have Rachel Furness, who opened the scoring in Ukraine, in our ranks tonight. Rachel, who was tremendous for us during the qualification campaign and again on Friday before she hobbled off the pitch, has sustained an injury to her ankle which will keep her on the sidelines for quite some time. There’s no doubt her injury is a big blow to us, as she is a great leader on and off the pitch, however it simply means another player will have to step up to the plate. I believe any member of our squad can do that and I think Friday showed once again that those coming off the bench in games are always willing to battle for the cause. We have good depth to our squad. My approach to the game tonight is simple: we will be playing to win. We have won five matches in a row now and that has boosted our confidence levels greatly. Ukraine were unbeaten in six matches going in to Friday’s match, and they will be annoyed at that run coming to an end. We must be ready to repel any backlash. Sadly tonight’s game has to be played behind closed doors due to Covid protocols. It would have been great to have had a packed house at Seaview to cheer us on, however we know that Covid is still very much with us and we understand why precautions are still needed. Hopefully we will be able to give those watching the match at home on television something to cheer about. Kenny Shiels Northern Ireland Senior Women’s Manager MANAGER’S VIEW

For both countries there is a huge prize at stake tonight: a place at a major tournament. While I was naturally delighted with our 2-1 win in Kovalivka in the first leg on Friday evening, it is only half-time in the tie. As the underdogs we undoubtedly caused an upset at the Kolos Stadium, however I have not allowed the players or coaching staff to get carried away with the result. The commitment and desire shown by my team in the first leg really pleased me, and we will have to dig deep once again tonight if we are to book a place at the Euros in England in the summer of 2022. While it is good to be ahead in the tie I believe a single goal margin will not be enough against strong opponents. We simply can’t play for a draw. It’s not in our make-up to do that and I will be urging the players to get on the front foot. It was difficult to get playing our normal style in Kovalivka and I thought we lacked fluency at times. Tonight we need to be better with the ball and the We are delighted to welcome Ukraine to Belfast for the second leg of our two-leg UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 play-off.

PROUD PARTNER OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

Glentoran Women JACKIE BURNS GOALKEEPER

REBECCA FLAHERTY GOALKEEPER

Linfield Ladies ASHLEY HUTTON DEFENDER

Linfield Ladies KELSIE BURROWS DEFENDER

Cliftonville Ladies TONI-LEIGH FINNEGAN DEFENDER Age Caps Goals 18 5 0

JULIE NELSON DEFENDER

REBECCA HOLLOWAY DEFENDER

Bristol City Women* LAURA RAFFERTY DEFENDER Age Caps Goals 25 28 0 * on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion Women

Sheffield United Women

Crusaders Strikers

Birmingham City Women

Age Caps Goals 24 28 0

Age Caps Goals 22 5 0

Age Caps Goals 33 110 9

Age Caps Goals 20 2 0

Age Caps Goals 35 115 8

Age Caps Goals 25 2 0

CIARA WATLING MIDFIELDER

EMMA McMASTER

Glentoran Women NADENE CALDWELL MIDFIELDER

Glentoran Women SAMANTHA KELLY MIDFIELDER Age Caps Goals 23 11 0

Cliftonville Ladies MARISSA CALLAGHAN MIDFIELDER Age Caps Goals 35 62 6

Liverpool Ladies RACHEL FURNESS MIDFIELDER

CHLOE McCARRON MIDFIELDER

DurhamWomen SARAH McFADDEN MIDFIELDER

DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

Charlton Athletic Women

Glentoran Women

Birmingham City Women

Age Caps Goals 28 22 0

Age Caps Goals 22 6 0

Age Caps Goals 29 61 1

Age Caps Goals 32 76 31

Age Caps Goals 23 14 1

Age Caps Goals 33 75 6

NORTHERN IRELAND UKRAINE

LOUISE McDANIEL MIDFIELDER

KERRY BEATTIE FORWARD

Glentoran Women DANIELLE MAXWELL FORWARD

Everton Women SIMONE MAGILL FORWARD Age Caps Goals 26 62 16

EMILY WILSON FORWARD

Sion Swifts Ladies KIRSTY McGUINNESS FORWARD Age Caps Goals 26 46 9

Linfield Ladies REBECCA McKENNA MIDFIELDER

Unattached

Glentoran Women

Crusaders Strikers

Age Caps Goals 20 2 0

Age Caps Goals 18 0 0

Age Caps Goals 19 3 0

Age Caps Goals 19 5 0

Age Caps Goals 20 11 0

DARYNA BONDARCHUK GOALKEEPER

KATERYNA SAMSON GOALKEEPER

IRYNA SANINA GOALKEEPER

ALLA HERASYMCHUK GOALKEEPER

Reims (FRA) DARYA KRAVETS DEFENDER

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-1

Hayasa (ARM)

Age Caps Goals 22 4 0

Age Caps Goals 32 40 0

Age Caps Goals 35 13 0

Age Caps Goals 23 0 0

Age Caps Goals 25 53 6

ANNA PETRYK DEFENDER

OLHA BASANSKA DEFENDER

LYUBOV SHMATKO DEFENDER

NATIYA PANTSULAYA DEFENDER

IRYNA PODOLSKA DEFENDER

Kharkiv-1

Kharkiv-1

Kharkiv-1

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-1

Age Caps Goals 23 13 0

Age Caps Goals 29 68 2

Age Caps Goals 27 26 1

Age Caps Goals 29 33 2

Age Caps Goals 26 15 0

ANASTASIYA VORONINA DEFENDER

ANASTASIYA FILENKO DEFENDER

DARYA APANASHCHENKO MIDFIELDER

IYA ANDRUSHCHAK MIDFIELDER

OLHA OVDIYCHUK MIDFIELDER

Kharkiv-1

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-1

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-1

The bulk of the Ukraine Women squad play for either Kharkiv-1 or Kharkiv-2. The two teams, from the city of Kharkiv in north- eastern Ukraine, are among the main contenders in the Ukrainian Women's Higher League, a full-time professional league. Ukraine head coach Nataliya Zinchenko combines her national duties with the role of manager of Kharkiv-2. Ukraine Women’s star player is Darya Apanashchenko, who plays for Kharkiv-1. The 34-year-old, who has 122 caps for her country, scored her 61st goal for Ukraine in the first leg of the Women’s Euro 2022 play-off in Kovalivka on Friday.

Age Caps Goals 27 1 0

Age Caps Goals 30 38 0

Age Caps Goals 34 122 61

Age Caps Goals 34 58 2

Age Caps Goals 27 61 19

TAMILA KHIMICH MIDFIELDER

OLHA BOICHENKO MIDFIELDER

YANA MALAKHOVA MIDFIELDER

YANA KALININA FORWARD

NADIYA KUNINA FORWARD

Split (CRO)

Kharkiv-1

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-1

Age Caps Goals 26 41 3

Age Caps Goals 32 58 14

Age Caps Goals 26 8 1

Age Caps Goals 26 44 6

Age Caps Goals 21 21 0

VERONIKA ANDRUKHIV FORWARD

Virginia Tech (USA) NICOLE KOZLOVA FORWARD

ROKSOLANA KRAVCHUK FORWARD

ANNA VORONINA MIDFIELDER

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-2

Kharkiv-1

Age Caps Goals 24 38 5

Age Caps Goals 20 14 4

Age Caps Goals 23 3 0

Age Caps Goals 28 10 0

The game is changing. Every step of the way. We’re proud to power women’s football here in Northern Ireland.

UKRAINE 1 APANASCHENKO 22' NORTHERN IRELAND 2 RACHEL FURNESS 5', SIMONE MAGILL 57'

Words Nigel Tilson

Northern Ireland Women produced a gritty, resilient and skilful display to defeat Ukraine Women in the first instalment of their two-leg UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 play-off.

Goals from Rachel Furness and Simone Magill were enough to secure a famous 2-1 victory at the Kolos Stadium in Kovalivka on Friday (9 April). Participating in their first ever play-off for a major tournament, Northern Ireland started brightly. Kirsty McGuinness fired a decent cross into the area which just evaded Nadene Caldwell at the back post. Furness pounced after just five minutes to make it 1-0 to Northern Ireland. Ukraine holding midfielder Tamila Khimich played a poor pass forward and the attacking midfielder nipped in to steer the ball past Ukraine keeper Iryna Sanina. The ball hit the keeper’s foot on the way into the net but Furness rightly claimed the goal. Ukraine then pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Rebecca Holloway made a couple of timely interceptions in quick succession, while down the other end her looping shot was easily collected by Sanina. Ukraine equalised on 22 minutes when their captain and star player Darya Apanashchenko flicked a header past Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns into the bottom corner. The midfielder got on the end of a pinpoint cross from Iya Andrushchak to grab her 61st goal for her country. On the half-hour mark Furness, who was clearly hobbling after picking up a ankle injury, was replaced by Chloe McCarron in the middle of the park and she quickly settled into the game, spreading the play when possible. Burns comfortably grabbed a shot from Khimich moments before the half-time whistle was blown by German referee Riem Hussein.

Just after the break Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan broke down the left and fired the ball across the face of goal. Magill just failed to connect with it. The Northern Ireland defence stood firm with veterans Ashley Hutton, Julie Nelson and Sarah McFadden working tirelessly alongside wing backs Holloway and Rebecca McKenna. Magill fired an effort into the side netting and Burns comfortably saved from Khimich before a Callaghan header was cleared away close to the Ukrainian goal-line. On 57 minutes Northern Ireland took the lead again when Magill got on the end of a McFadden flick-on, after forcing her way past her marker, and controlled the ball on her chest before neatly clipping the ball high into the net past Sanina from 10 yards. It was a lovely finish and it proved to be the winner. Ten minutes later Burns pushed away a free-kick from Apanashchenko before a last ditch tackle from Hutton snuffed out a Ukraine attack. Ukraine substitute Nadia Kunina just failed to connect with a clever through ball before McKenna was chopped down by Khimich as she threatened to break free down the right. It was a cynical foul, however the ref only gave a yellow card to the Ukrainian midfielder. With minutes remaining Khimich fired in a rasping long range effort which Burns got her fingertips to and turned around the post – and the resulting corner was eventually cleared. It was backs to the wall in the four minutes of injury time, however the girls in green and white held their nerve and held on for a deserved victory.

TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

The virtual mascots for tonight’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 play-off match between Northern Ireland and Ukraine are either participants in Shootings Stars, the Electric Ireland-backed Irish FA Foundation programme which teaches young girls the fundamentals of football, or members of generationGAWA!, the new junior membership club for Northern Ireland fans. They were nominated by friends and family.

ISABEL SUNMCELWEE AGED 9

SADIE CURRAN AGED 7

DARCIE NUMMY AGED 10

MICAH CURRAN AGED 9

HEIDI CURRAN AGED 11

JOEL SCOTT AGED 11

PORTADOWN

NEWRY

PORTADOWN

PORTADOWN

DERRY

LISBURN

ETHAN LIVINGSTON AGED 9

CONOR McCLEMENTS AGED 11

GRACE GREENHILL AGED 9

CONNIE BLACK AGED 12

MATILDA COLLEN AGED 8

BALLYMONEY

LURGAN

MAGHABERRY

GREYABBEY

BALLYHALBERT

Northern Ireland v Ukraine At home activity sheet

Colouring -in challenge Colour in theNorthern Ireland senior women’s teamplayers celebrating and you couldwin your very own Snugzy toy.

For a chance to win, send a picture of your colouring-in along with your name, age and hometown to fanexperience@irishfa.com Stat’s Us Nai Watch the match and complete the stats below. Venue:

Team captains:

Goal scorers:

Final score:

Yellow and red cards:

Corners:

NI

UKR

NI

UKR

NI

UKR

Your player of the match:

Your favourite Northern Ireland player:

Send a picture of your stats to fanexperience@irishfa.com along with your name, age and hometown for your chance to win tickets to the next senior women’s game.

Kenny Shiels Manager

Natalya Zinchenko Head Coach

Jackie Burns Glentoran Women Becky Flaherty Sheffield United Women Ashley Hutton Linfield Ladies Kelsie Burrows Linfield Ladies Toni-Leigh Finnegan Cliftonville Ladies Julie Nelson Crusaders Strikers Rebecca Holloway Birmingham City Women Laura Rafferty Bristol City Women* Emma McMaster Glentoran Women Nadene Caldwell Glentoran Women Samantha Kelly Glentoran Women Marissa Callaghan Cliftonville Ladies (captain) Rachel Furness Liverpool Ladies Chloe McCarron Birmingham City Women Sarah McFadden Durham Women Ciara Watling Charlton Athletic Women Rebecca McKenna Linfield Ladies Louise McDaniel Unattached Kerry Beattie Glentoran Women Danielle Maxwell Glentoran Women Simone Magill Everton Women Emily Wilson Crusaders Strikers Kirsty McGuinness Sion Swifts Ladies *on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion Women

Daryna Bondarchuk Kharkiv-2 Kateryna Samson Kharkiv-2 Iryna Sanina Kharkiv-1 Alla Herasymchuk Hayasa (ARM) Darya Kravets Reims (FRA) Anna Petryk Kharkiv-1 Olha Basanska Kharkiv-1 Lyubov Shmatko Kharkiv-1 Natiya Pantsulaya Kharkiv-2 Iryna Podolska Kharkiv-1

UKRAINE

Anastasiya Voronina Kharkiv-1 Anastasiya Filenko Kharkiv-2 Darya Apanashchenko Kharkiv-1 (captain)

Iya Andrushchak Kharkiv-2 Olha Ovdiychuk Kharkiv-1 Tamila Khimich Split (CRO) Olha Boichenko Kharkiv-1 Yana Malakhova Kharkiv-2

Yana Kalinina Kharkiv-2 Nadiya Kunina Kharkiv-1 Veronika Andrukhiv Kharkiv-2 Nicole Kozlova Virginia Tech (USA) Roksolana Kravchuk Kharkiv-2 Anna Voronina Kharkiv-1

NORTHERN IRELAND

Green and White

Yellow

RESULTS/FIXTURES UEFA WOMEN’S EURO 2022 QUALIFYING GROUP C 30.08 Northern Ireland 0 - 6 Norway 03.09 Wales 2 - 2 Northern Ireland 08.11 Norway 6 - 0 Northern Ireland 12.11 Northern Ireland 0 - 0 Wales 18.09 Faroe Islands 0 - 6 Northern Ireland 27.10 Belarus 0 - 1 Northern Ireland 27.11 Northern Ireland 3 - 2 Belarus 01.12 Northern Ireland 5 - 1 Faroe Islands UEFA WOMEN’S EURO 2022 PLAY-OFF 09.04(First Leg) Ukraine 1 - 2 Northern Ireland 13.04 (Second Leg) Northern Ireland - Ukraine 2019 2020 2021

MATCH OFFICIALS Referee

Jana Adamkova CZE Assistant Referee 1 Lucie Ratajova CZE Assistant Referee 2 Sara Telek AUT Fourth Official Lucie Sulcova CZE Observer Silvia Tea Spinelli ITA

Official Publication by Irish Football Association National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, BT12 6LW Editor Nigel Tilson Design and Print Minprint Ltd, 401 Castlereagh Road, Belfast,

Irish Football Association President David Martin

Deputy President Jack Grundie Chief Executive Patrick Nelson Advertising Irish Football Association Pictures Press Eye

Co Down, BT5 6QP Tel: 028 9070 5205 www.minprint.co.uk

Please note that the views in this programme do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish Football Association.

The game is changing. Every step of the way. We’re proud to power women’s football here in Northern Ireland.