Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-17 team were narrowly defeated by Montenegro in a Euro qualifier played in Belfast.
Competition
UEFA WU17 Euro 2025 Qualifiers
Scoreline
Northern Ireland WU17s 1-2 Montenegro WU17s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Jessica McGuinness (6’)
Montenegro: Teodora Cebalovic (4’), Jana Merdovic (21’)
Venue
Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Date
17 March 2025
Team News
Gail Redmond’s U17s are currently competing in League B Group 1 in the second and final round of the UEFA WU17 Euro 2025 qualifiers.
Redmond has chosen a 20-strong panel for games against Estonia, Montenegro and Kazakhstan.
The mini tournament is being hosted by the Irish FA, with B1 games being staged at Seaview and Inver Park in Larne.
How it happened
Montenegro took the lead after just four minutes. A ball played over the top was latched on to by striker Teodora Cebalovic and she applied a smart finish.
Northern Ireland bounced back quickly, however. Two minutes later Maja Stachura found Jessica McGuinness 30 yards out and she blasted the ball into the back of the net. It was a superb strike.
The Montenegro keeper, Senita Kalac, put in a player of the match performance, producing a string of good saves.
She saved well from McGuinness and from Stachura on two occasions before Montenegro regained the lead on 21 minutes, captain Jana Merdovic scoring with a well-struck free-kick.
On 32 minutes Mia Reilly produced a fine cross which found Lucy Kelly and her header was just off target, and then Stachura teed up Charlotte Havern and her shot flew inches over the top.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU17s 1-2 Montenegro WU17s
After the interval Northern Ireland piled on the pressure but Kalac and the Montenegro defence managed to repel several attacks.
Northern Ireland captain and keeper Abbie Smith saved a Merdovic effort before Kalac pushed away a Havern snapshot. A McGuinness corner was met by Chloe Beckinsale and her header went just over the top.
Stachura had a one-on-one with the keeper but steered her shot wide of the post, while on 75 minutes substitute Emilee Leacock had another one-on-one. This time the keeper kept out her effort.
Northern Ireland had the ball in the net on 81 minutes, however McGuinness was adjudged to have been in an offside position when she clipped the ball home.
It was a frustrating game for Northern Ireland. They dominated possession and created plenty of opportunities but found Kalac in inspired form.
Matchday two, on Thursday (20 March), will see Redmond’s side take on Kazakhstan, who drew 2-2 with Estonia in their first game. That match is at Inver Park (4pm start), while Estonia and Montenegro will meet at Seaview (12.30pm).
Full-time: Northern Ireland WU17s 1-2 Montenegro WU17s
Line-ups
Northern Ireland WU17s: Abbie Smith (captain), Caitlin Carlisle, Niamh Hassan, Chloe Beckinsale, Lillie Horner, Jessica McGuinness, Lucy Kelly, Sophie Pollock, Maja Stachura, Charlotte Havern, Mia Reilly.
Substitutes: (used) Sophie Hutchinson, Emilee Leacock, Abbie Smyth, Ava Hurl, Anna Walsh; (unused) Zara Maguire (GK), Ellen McDermott, Brooke Taylor, Heidi Curran.
Montenegro WU17s: Senita Kalac, Danica Reljic, Ana Vlahovic, Azra Orahovac, Anika Petrovic, Aleka Balevic, Jana Merdovic (captain), Elena Damjanovic, Teodora Cebalovic, Azra Durakovic, Iris Dizdarevic.
Substitutes: (used) Jovana Radovic, Jovana Boskovic, Sara Tadic, Tajra Tahlovic; (unused) Dajana Stozinic (GK), Nikolina Mozer, Tijana Dzankic, Andjela Besovic, Vjera Bulajic.
Action from Seaview
