NI clinch second with win against Bosnia

Andrews' second international goal set Northern Ireland on their way to victory at Windsor Park

Northern Ireland clinched second place in their Euro 2025 qualifying group with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina at Windsor Park.

After an entertaining first half where both sides lacked quality in the final third, Joely Andrews opened the scoring soon after half-time for Tanya Oxtoby's side.

Substitute Lauren Wade then added a second on 67 minutes as Northern Ireland ended this international window with two wins from two games.

They will discover their opponent for the two-legged tie in October when the play-off draw is made on Friday.

Lively start at Windsor

Rafferty was one of a number of Norther Ireland players who went close to scoring the opener in the first half

Oxtoby opted to make two changes to the side that beat Malta 2-0 last week with Andrews and Danielle Maxwell drafted in to replace Louise McDaniel and Nadene Caldwell.

Just like in Malta on Friday night, it was a fast start to the game with Emina Ekic and Keri Halliday both seeing shots from range drift wide in the opening stages.

Laura Rafferty then had a stabbed effort towards goal cleared off the line after she connected with an in-swinging corner delivery.

The captain went close moments later as she again got on the end of a Rebecca Holloway corner but headed wide from close range.

At the other end, Ekic weaved her way into the box past a number of challenges before seeing her low shot deflected into the side-netting.

Danielle Maxwell was the latest Northern Ireland player to have an effort on target, with Bosnia goalkeeper Almina Hodzic forced to tip the Cliftonville winger's downward header beyond the far post.

After a lull in the game, Northern Ireland piled the pressure on in the closing stages of the half.

Joely Andrews had an effort come back off the crossbar before Hodzic was forced to beat away a strong strike from Holloway.

NI take control in second half

Substitute Wade sealed the win for Northern Ireland with a clinical finish

Northern Ireland were fast out of the blocks in the second half and made the breakthrough just two minutes after the restart.

Kerry Beattie dropped deep to pick up the ball before finding Casey Howe on the left-hand side and she drove into the box and picked out Andrews, who stroked home after bursting into the area.

Bosnia-Herzegovina knew they had to press further forward to get back into the game and keep their hopes of beating NI into second place alive.

Both Selma Kapetanovic and Ekic had efforts thwarted by Burns as they searched for an equaliser.

However, Northern Ireland would take advantage of some poor defending to double their advantage on 67 minutes.

Marija Milinkovic failed to intercept Brenna McPartland's through ball to Wade and the substitute capitalised, racing through on goal before firing a powerful strike past Hodzic.

Ena Sabanagic had a long-range strike tipped over the crossbar by Burns as Northern Ireland saw out the game and held on for a second consecutive clean sheet.