Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-17s were defeated by a powerful Poland WU17s side in a Euro qualifier in Scotland.
Competition
WU17 Euro 2025 Qualifiers – League A Group 4
Scoreline
Poland WU17s 5-0 Northern Ireland WU17s
Scorers
Poland: Zajac (7’), Madejczyk (28’), Skrzypczak (46’), Burzan (56’), Guzenda (83’)
Venue
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Date
1 October 2024
Team News
The WU17s are competing in League A in the first stage of WU17 Euro 2025 qualifiers in the early part of this month.
WU17s manager Gail Redmond has chosen a 20-strong panel for matches against Poland, Scotland and Iceland.
The WU17s earned promotion to League A after winning a three-team mini tournament (Group B5) back in February. In the qualifying second round for WU17 Euro 2024 they defeated Malta by five goals to one and Luxembourg 4-1.
League A in part one of the 2024-25 competition consists of 28 teams. The teams finishing fourth in seven groups will be relegated to League B for 2024-25 Round 2.
League A R2, drawn on 6 December this year and to be completed by 23 March next year, will decide the seven teams joining hosts Faroe Islands in the WU17 finals from 4 to 17 May 2025.
How it happened
Poland pushed forward from the start. Northern Ireland captain Abbie Smith saved an effort from Natalia Skrok before the Poles opened the scoring on seven minutes through fellow midfielder Blanka Zajac.
Lucy Kelly forced a save out of Poland keeper Hanna Buchta, while Smith thwarted attacker Nicola Madejczyk, who then fired another effort wide. The Northern Ireland keeper also kept out a drive from Poland striker and captain Zofia Burzan.
However, Madejczyk made her mark in the 28th minute when she was teed up by another attacker, Wiktoria Skrzypczak, and found the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Madejczyk missed two opportunities as half-time approached, and Smith stopped a Burzan effort in stoppage time.
Half-time: Poland WU17s 2-0 Northern Ireland WU17s
Redmond took off a couple of defenders at half-time to enable forward Mia Reilly and midfielder Sophie Pollock to enter the fray.
However, a minute after the restart Northern Ireland fell further behind. This time Madejczyk turned provider for Skrzypczak and she made no mistake.
Northern Ireland forward Ava Hurl’s effort drifted wide before Poland grabbed a fourth. Madejczyk provided the assist once more as Burzan got on the scoresheet.
Further chances were created by the powerful Poles. Smith kept out efforts from Skrzypczak and Wiktoria Zgrzeba in quick succession.
Smith then saved from Skrzypczak again but soon after Polish substitute Amelia Guzenda made it 5-0.
In the closing stages the Northern Ireland keeper was called into action to prevent Skrzypczak from adding to Poland’s tally.
Afterwards Gail Redmond said: “It was a very tough test against a talented Polish side. I was disappointed with how we conceded some of the goals, but there was lots of learning to help us prepare for the next two games.”
Game two in A4 for the WU17s is against mini tournament hosts Scotland in Cumbernauld on Friday (4 October) at 11.30am. Scotland defeated Iceland 2-0 in their opening game in the four-team group.
Full-time: Poland WU17s 5-0 Northern Ireland WU17s
Poland: Hanna Buchta, Liwia Prochwicz, Julia Szymczyk, Maja Wisniewska, Zofia Switala, Natalia Skrok, Blanka Zajac, Wiktoria Zgrzeba, Zofia Burzan (captain), Nicola Madejczyk, Wiktoria Skrzypczak.
Substitutes: Dominika Lemanczyk (GK), Patrycja Matuszczyk, Figura Aleksandra, Emilia Muszynska, Olga Polewska, Sandra Piotrowska, Maja Leskiewicz, Amelia Guzenda, Marta Kwiatkowska.
Northern Ireland: Abbie Smith (captain), Caitlin Carlisle, Sophie Hutchinson, Niamh Hassan, Chloe Beckinsale, Charlotte Havern, Lucy Kelly, Mirjana Karrabecaj, Ava Hurl, Jessica McGuinness, Tara Kerr.
Substitutes: (used) Sophie Pollock, Mia Reilly, Anna Walsh, Lillie Horner, Ellen McDermott; (unused) Zara Maguire (GK), Olivia Campbell, Caitie McGurnaghan, Ruby Adair.
