Last update on. From the section Women's Football
Northern Ireland opens with a comfortable victory over Luxembourg
With a win over Luxembourg at Inver park, Northern Ireland made a perfect start to their 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign.
As Kenny Shiels' side won in front of a cheering home crowd, Rachel Furness, Marissa Callaghan and Emily Wilson scored the first-half goals.
Furness missed a penalty following the restart, but NI received their well-deserved fourth through Lauren Wade, a winger.
Kirsty McGuinness was late to the party, but NI proved their worth.
This historic win was a landmark night for Inver Park, the home of Irish Premiership side Larne. It hosted its first ever senior international, as Northern Ireland returned back to competitive action after their Euro 2022 victory over Ukraine.
Luxembourg, ranked 122nd worldwide, were competing in the maiden full World Cup qualifier. Northern Ireland's returning supporters were left to enjoy a professional performance that extended their streak of competitive victories up to seven.
Performance of the first half textbook
Within the first minute, McGuinness' cross got lost by Lucie Schlime goalkeeper, and Wilson, in place of Simone Magill, made a sloppy attempt with the goal gaping.
Julie Nelson, defender for Northern Ireland, almost scored a fairytale goal on her 118th cap when a looping header from a Larne native hit the post. Furness' attempt from range came in a few minutes later.
Northern Ireland was under constant pressure and Nelson had another chance. Chloe McCarron was awarded a free kick by Schlime. Luxembourg's resistance was broken 16 minutes later when Callaghan was quick to react to Furness flicks-on.
Cliftonville's midfielder darted to the ball and lobbed Schlime in a brilliant, instinctive attempt to break the deadlock.
Inver Park, Larne hosted its first ever senior international match
The Shiels' side was on the defensive after the kick-off, and there was a brief panic. Kimberley Santos got in behind Jackie Burns' defence and forced her to make a smart save.
But there was light quickly between the sides when Furness, on 23 minutes, headed home a McGuinness corner for her 32nd international goal.
Dos Santos tested Burns again in a carbon copy, but the home pressure continued to mount as Wade and Furness, both of whom could have finished the first-half with five goals each, failed to make it.
Schlime pulled off a spectacular double stop to stop Sarah McFadden and Callaghan from getting in on the action. Rebecca Holloway and Wilson were also denied by the sea of red shirts.
The home team got their third goal when Wilson, 20, scored her first international goal after Furness' free kick had come back off the post.
Furness escapes the penalty, Vance returns
Furness shot wide from another corner in the second period. The Liverpool midfielder, Furness, hit the inside of this post with a penalty 52 minutes later after Wilson's shot was blocked by Jessica Berscheid.
Northern Ireland's pace dropped to the hour mark. Shiels introduced Demi Vance, a fit-again youngster, and Kerry Beattie as an alternative to Furness and Wilson.
Vance, Rangers' left-back, was involved immediately and her teasing cross barely evaded Beattie. Glentoran forward Glentoran then nearly scored her maiden international goal when her halfway volley from an angle tight to the goal post fizzed past Beattie.
Lauren Wade celebrates scoring NI's fourth goal.
McFadden scored a header as the hosts searched for a fourth goal. It came with 20 minutes remaining when Wade calmly tucked the ball into the bottom corner after Beattie blocked his shot.
Wade was able to find the side neting from McGuinness’ deep cross, as the green shirts continued to surge forward. The Cliftonville winger nearly scored a well-deserved goal when her powerful strike from near the area hit the top of McGuinness' crossbar.
Northern Ireland managed to secure three points in their first game. Shiels can now look forward at a highly-anticipated encounter against Latvia at Windsor Park on Tuesday. This will be the senior women’s first game at Windsor Park since 2010.
Before a November trip to North Macedonia, the difficult October matches against Group D favorites England and Austria are followed.
