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Northern Ireland secure second place

Bosnia & Herzegovina 1 (Krajsumovic 29) Northern Ireland 1 (Magill 23)

Northern Ireland clinched a place in the UEFA Women’s Nations League promotion play-offs with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in

Zenica, securing second place in League B Group 1.

The result earns Tanya Oxtoby’s side a chance to face one of the four third-placed teams from League A for a spot in the top tier.

Oxtoby made three changes to the line up from the recent defeat to Poland, with Danielle Maxwell, Lauren Wade, and Rachel Dugdale replacing Abi Sweetlove, Nadene Caldwell, and Kascie Weir.

The hosts started brightly, with Marija Milinkovic heading wide from Una Rankic’s corner early on. Milinkovic threatened again soon after, her low shot blocked by goalkeeper Jackie Burns, while Selma Kapetanovic fired the rebound wide. Northern Ireland’s first chance came after ten minutes when Maxwell’s low cross narrowly evaded Wade, followed by captain Simone Magill’s effort being saved by Almina Hodzic.

Magill broke the deadlock midway through the first half, latching onto a Rebecca Holloway pass from a Burns clearance to calmly slot past Hodzic. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina equalised just before the half hour mark through Sofija Krajusumovic, who beat Ellie Mason to Husic’s lofted pass and finished into the far corner.

Northern Ireland responded well, with Holloway’s cross nearly finding Magill and Megan Bell’s effort being pushed away by Hodzic. The hosts came close to taking the lead before the break though when Rankic’s free kick struck the base of the post.

After the interval, Oxtoby introduced Emily Wilson and Keri Halliday, and the substitutes nearly made an immediate impact. Halliday’s dipping cross almost caught out Hodzic, while Magill fired over from Halliday’s lay off. Halliday later failed to connect cleanly with a Mason cross.

Despite Bosnia & Herzegovina needing goals to overtake Northern Ireland, they struggled to create clear chances. Nikolic set up Rankic, whose shot drifted wide, but the hosts’ threat faded. Northern Ireland looked more likely to score late on, with Halliday and Mason both denied by Hodzic.

Northern Ireland will learn their play-off opponents at noon on Friday, as they aim for promotion to League A.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Almina Hodzic, Ena Sabanagic, Gloria Sliskovic, Melisa Hasanbegovic, Samra Muhic (sub Andrea Grebenar 78mins), Elma Husic, Una Rankic (sub Emma Veletanlic 87mins), Marija Milinkovic, Sofija Krajsumovic (sub Nikolina Milovic 90mins), Milena Nikolic, Selma Kapetanovic (sub Aida Hadzic 78mins). Subs not used: Envera Hasanbegovic, Iman Dumanjic, Ana Juric, Minela Gacanica, Alma Krajnic, Nina Brnic.

Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca Holloway (sub Natalie Johnson 59mins), Rachel Dugdale, Ellie Mason, Lauren Wade (sub Caragh Hamilton 90mins), Brenna McPartlan, Megan Bell (sub Kascie Weir 72mins), Joely Andrews (sub Keri Halliday 45mins), Rebecca McKenna, Danielle Maxwell (sub Emily Wilson 45mins), Simone Magill. Subs not used: Abbie Smith, Kate Smith, Rachel Furness, Aimee Kerr, Nadene Caldwell, Louise McDaniel, Abi Sweetlove.