Liverpool forward Rachel Furness netted the only goal as a Northern Ireland side reduced to 10 players battled bravely to 1-0 victory in Belarus this evening.
Kenny Shiels’ side needed a victory in Minsk to keep their UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 dreams alive and they did just that, despite playing more than an hour with 10 players.
Northern Ireland dominated the early proceedings at the Dinamo National Olympic Stadium but they were dealt a real blow after 27 minutes when goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns was sent off for bringing down Anastaysia Shcherbachenia.
Against all odds, Shiels’ side took the lead three minutes before half-time when Liverpool forward Furness headed home following a corner kick.
Furness was unlucky not to double both her own and her side’s goal tally 20 minutes into the second half when she was denied by the woodwork.
Belarus clearly lacked quality going forward with Northern Ireland able to see out the remainder of the match and claim a vital win which keeps them in the hunt for a place at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.
Liverpool forward Furness was joined in the Northern Ireland starting XI in Minsk by fellow FA Women’s Championship player Sarah Robson (Durham) while Barclays FA Women’s Super League players Chloe McCarron (Birmingham City) and Simone Magill (Everton) also started the match. Sheffield United keeper Becky Flaherty came on following Burns’ dismissal.
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