Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-17 team bossed a Euro qualifier against Estonia but had to settle for a draw after the Estonians grabbed a stoppage time equaliser.
Competition
UEFA WU17 Euro 2025 Qualifiers
Scoreline
Estonia WU17s 2-2 Northern Ireland WU17s
Scorers
Estonia: Bea Kristiansen (48’), Anastasija Juzaninova (90+1’)
Northern Ireland: Abbie Smyth (37’, 80’)
Venue
Seaview, Belfast
Date
23 March 2025
Team News
Gail Redmond’s Women’s U17s have been competing in League B Group 1 in the second and final round of the UEFA WU17 Euro 2025 qualifiers this month.
For their final game in the group Redmond made four changes to the team that started the 2-2 draw with Kazakhstan in game two.
Abbie Smith, who played in the 2-1 defeat to Montenegro in the first group game, returned in nets, replacing Zara Maguire.
Sophie Pollock, Ava Hurl and Mia Reilly came in for Sophie Hutchinson, the injured Lucy Kelly and Maja Stachura.
How it happened
Northern Ireland had to win to have any chance of being promoted to League A for round one of the UEFA WU17 Euro 2026 qualifiers.
They started brightly. After five minutes a Charlotte Havern free-kick went inches over the bar, while five minutes after that Estonia keeper Irina Kozljajeva pushed away a decent effort from Abbie Smyth.
On 20 minutes Chloe Beckinsale got on the end of a Smyth corner but guided her shot wide, while Havern sent another free-kick just over the bar.
Northern Ireland took the lead on 36 minutes. A well-struck Ellen McDermott shot came back off the bar and Smyth (pictured) slotted the rebound home.
Smyth’s delivery from a free-kick found Beckinsale who was unlucky to see her firm header drift off target.
Then Smyth fired a free-kick just over the bar, while the Estonia keeper saved well from Mia Reilly.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU17s 1-0 Estonia WU17s
Just after the break Estonia equalised. Abbie Smith pushed out a shot from Gerda Matson but the rebound was tucked home by Bea Kristiansen.
Smith was then called into action to stop a Gretlin Pihlak shot from the edge of the area, while the Estonia keeper saved a close range effort from substitute Maja Stachura.
On 60 minutes Beckinsale headed just wide from a Havern free-kick delivery and eight minutes later substitute Anna Walsh fired over the top.
The Estonia keeper saved well from Walsh before Smyth scored a superb goal to make it 2-1 to Northern Ireland. She dribbled past a few players inside the area before smashing the ball into the top corner.
Northern Ireland looked to be on course for a victory, however a minute into stoppage time Estonia levelled when a Nicole Kelli corner was headed home by substitute Anastasija Juzaninova.
In today’s other game in the group, played at Inver Park in Larne, Montenegro defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 to win the group and earn promotion to League A for the next set of qualifiers.
Northern Ireland finished third in the group and will play in League B once again next time around.
Full-time: Estonia WU17s 2-2 Northern Ireland WU17s
Line-ups
Estonia WU17s: Irina Kozljajeva, Mia Kaalma, Isabella Scotti, Jelizaveta Juzaninova, Mirell Luik, Nicole Kelli, Maribel Laidmets, Loviise Manniste (captain), Gretlin Pihlak, Bea Kristiansen, Gerda Matson.
Substitutes: (used) Grete Gross, Hanna Haavistu, Rianna Vaarsi, Victoria Prunn, Anastasija Juzaninova; (unused) Regina Ivanova (GK), Alesja Kiuru, Liisa Suup, Arina Uzjukina
Northern Ireland WU17s: Abbie Smith (captain), Caitlin Carlisle, Niamh Hassan, Chloe Beckinsale, Sophie Pollock, Heidi Curran, Ava Hurl, Charlotte Havern, Mia Reilly, Abbie Smyth, Ellen McDermott.
Substitutes: (used) Maja Stachura, Anna Walsh, Lillie Horner, Brooke Taylor; (unused) Zara Maguire (GK), Lucy Kelly (inj), Jessica McGuinness (inj), Emilee Leacock.
Action from Seaview
