Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-16 team defeated their Latvian counterparts in their first game in a UEFA development tournament in Malta.
Competition
UEFA WU16 Development Tournament
Scoreline
Latvia WU16s 1-3 Northern Ireland WU16s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Emilee Leacock (4’), Ava Hurl (25’), Charlotte Flanagan (43’)
Venue
Centenary Stadium, Ta’Qali
Date
4 March 2025
Team News
Northern Ireland are facing Latvia, Ghana and Malta in a four-team mini tournament in Malta this week.
WU16s head coach Danielle McDowell Tuffey, who is being assisted by Julie Nelson, has selected a 20-player squad for the UEFA development tournament.
How it happened
Northern Ireland took the lead after just four minutes. Emilee Leacock dribbled past a couple of defenders and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
In the 24th minute Charlotte Havern had a shot blocked before Latvia keeper Nikola Jelsina made an excellent stop from Abbie Smyth.
A minute later it was 2-0 to Northern Ireland. Leacock turned her marker before feeding the ball to Smyth. Her shot hit the post, however the rebound fell to Ava Hurl and she finished well from close range.
Latvia fired a free-kick over the top and then they pulled a goal back, Anna Artemjeva scoring with a neat curler.
Hurl had an effort saved before the keeper pushed a powerful shot from Hurl onto the crossbar and out for a corner. Havern swung the resulting corner into the area where Charlotte Flanagan was on hand to tuck the ball home to make it 3-1.
Half-time: Latvia WU16s 1-3 Northern Ireland WU16s
After the interval Northern Ireland continued to create chances.
Smyth slipped the ball to substitute Maja Stachura on the edge of the penalty area and her drive went inches past the post. Then Stachura and Leacock combined well to tee up Smyth, whose shot also went past the upright.
On the hour mark substitute Mirjana Karrabecaj’s long range shot went just over the top, while Stachura forced a good save out of Jelsina.
In the 66th minute the Latvia keeper was called into action again to keep out a Havern snapshot.
Right at the end of the game substitute Ruby Adair delivered a fine cross to Heidi Curran who volleyed the ball over the top.
Next up for the WU16s is a game against Ghana at Ta’Qali on Thursday (6 March).
Full-time: Latvia WU16s 1-3 Northern Ireland WU16s
Line-ups
Latvia WU16s: Nikola Jelsina, Eliza Markvarte, Elizabete Dubinska, Liva Strauta, Aleksija Snaidere, Lote Aleksandrova, Emilija Ambaine, Viktorija Savuskina, Anna Artemjeva, Jekaterina Haritonova, Keita Zviedr.
Substitutes: Felicita Feigina (GK), Katrina Petersone, Adriana Selusinska, Anete Gailite, Ketrina Vorslova, Anna Pereligina, Laura Kanapeusa, Alise Grigorjeva, Megija Krastina.
Northern Ireland WU16s: Madison Bell, Grace Campbell, Holly Hilton, Chloe Beckinsale (captain), Lily-Brooke Wallace, Heidi Curran, Emilee Leacock, Charlotte Havern, Charlotte Flanagan, Abbie Smyth, Ava Hurl.
Substitutes: Sophie Glover (GK), Zara McAvoy (GK), Maja Stachura, Mirjana Karrabecaj, Daisy Moore, Grace McAllister, Aoife Gargan, Lauren Morrison, Ruby Adair.
