'She's definitely a gem' - Oxtoby on match-winner Wade

Wade popped up with the winner at the end of what had been a frustrating night for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby hailed match-winner Lauren Wade as a "gem" after they overcame Croatia in their Euro 2025 play-off second leg at Windsor Park.

Wade struck with seven minutes left in extra time to give Northern Ireland a 2-1 aggregate victory that moves them into the second-round play-off, where they will face two-time champions Norway.

Oxtoby was pleased with Wade's display and her overall contribution throughout the qualification campaign.

"Waders did a job for us all night, her versatility is what we are all about, she is definitely a gem," Oxtoby said.

"When you look at the highlight reels across the campaign, she pops up in everything good we do so that goal was a credit to her."

'I'm glad they have a moment to enjoy'

Wade started the game at left-back before moving to a more advanced left-wing role late in the game, a planned move from Oxtoby which paid dividends.

"We dropped her a bit deeper to give us something from the deeper spaces, with the view that she was going to go forward at the end of the game when they were tiring a bit to give us that bit of quality and balance," she explained.

"What a goal, I'm really happy for her."

The Australian, who admitted that Northern Ireland had practised penalties yesterday and were "prepared" for a shootout, conceded that her overriding feeling when the goal went in was relief.

"I felt like it was coming, and I'm really pleased with that reward for the effort," she continued.

"We had to dig in when the momentum wasn't with us and make changes to be able to grind out the result and I'm glad the players have a moment to enjoy."

Now Northern Ireland's attentions turn to preparing for the daunting task of the second-round play-off in November against Norway, who beat Albania 14-0 on aggregate in the first round.

"It's a great challenge for this young group, one we won't shy away from, and we said all along, if we want to get to a Euros we have to beat the best teams.

"The prep has already started, it started before this window, with such a short turnaround, we had to make sure we're ready to go," she added.

"We'll enjoy tonight, and the rest of the week and we get going next week."