Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the 2027 Women’s World Cup suffered a heavy blow as they were beaten 4-0 by Portugal in the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Inver Park. Manager Michael McArdle, who took over in March, admitted the tie had gone from ‘improbable to impossible’ after the four-goal defeat.
Portugal were in control by half-time, leading 3-0 through a Telma Encarnacao penalty, a Jessica Silva finish and Rebecca Holloway’s own goal. Northern Ireland were given hope when Catarina Amado was sent off for a second yellow card with 25 minutes left, but Fatima Pinto’s goal restored Portugal’s four-goal cushion.
The second leg takes place in Portimao on Tuesday. Portugal are well-placed to set up a second round play-off tie, most likely against Iceland, who won 4-0 in Croatia in their first leg.
McArdle said the scoreline was ‘sore’ and ‘it hurts’, adding: ‘It feels a bit harder on us than the actual game produced. We’re hurting in that aspect. There are lots of positives there, which we’ll take and we’ll move forward for the longer process. But in the shorter term, the tie becomes, from a case of being improbable to impossible now, with the four-goal deficit.’
Northern Ireland were without a number of experienced players, including captain Simone Magill, Laura Rafferty and Nadene Caldwell. McArdle handed a debut to defender Jane McMaster and first caps to Kess Elmore and Charlotte Havern off the bench. McMaster responded well after giving away the early penalty for Encarnacao’s opener, while it was a big moment for Cliftonville’s Havern, 16, to be introduced with 10 minutes remaining.
‘It’s fundamental, especially for our younger players, to get this exposure,’ McArdle added. ‘It’s a risk and it’s brave, but it’s one that will definitely 100% stand strong with us in the long term. It will give us that sustainable opportunity to qualify for tournaments in the longer run because we need our younger players to get this exposure, but also for a lot of our senior players as well.’
After impressing in the second half before Pinto’s goal took the wind out of their sails, McArdle said his players will ‘hurt for the next 24 hours or so’ but will regroup for the second leg. Northern Ireland will be without Cora Chambers, who was sent off in the closing stages for grabbing the hair of Carolina Correia.
‘There’s the travel over to Portugal thrown in to allow us to relax a wee bit afterwards,’ McArdle said. ‘But once we get there, we’ll look forward to Tuesday again. We’re trying to qualify, but there is a longer process as well that we’ll use Tuesday night for.’