Wade stunner saves Northern Ireland's Euro 2025 hopes

Lauren Wade scored a superb extra-time winner as a below-par Northern Ireland defeated Croatia 2-1 on aggregate in the first round of Euro 2025 play-offs.

After a 1-1 draw in Croatia and a drab goalless 90 minutes on the night at Windsor Park, Wade fired into the top corner with six minutes remaining after a clearance fell to her on the edge of the area.

The Belfast stadium erupted with euphoria, in relief as much as celebration, on what had been a frustrating night.

Manager Tanya Oxtoby hugged her coaching staff as the players celebrated in the corner, as Northern Ireland's hopes of making back-to-back Euros stay alive.

Despite the ecstasy of the late win, Northern Ireland know they will be massive underdogs and will need to improve against Norway in the final play-off round.

Norway, who have beaten Northern Ireland three times in the past five years, hammered Albania 9-0 in Oslo and 14-0 on aggregate and will be huge favourites to progress to the finals in Switzerland next summer.

Wade, who started the game in an unfamiliar left-back position, was the hero that Northern Ireland required after a flat performance in Belfast.

The squad had spoken of their confidence after a 1-1 draw in Croatia on Friday, but they struggled to cut through their opponents and were becoming frustrated.

Simone Magill, captaining Northern Ireland for the first time at Windsor Park, hit the crossbar early in the first half but it was the visitors who created the most chances and could have won the game in normal time.

Casey Howe, introduced to the starting team after a lively cameo in Croatia, fizzed an effort over in the early stages and the winger was involved again when she cut inside and dragged an effort wide from the edge of the area.

Northern Ireland's best chance of the half fell to Magill, who raced on to a through ball in the area but she could only rattle the crossbar from close range.

Croatia's threat on the counter-attack was evident as, moments later, record goalscorer Ivana Rudelic was played through and she forced Jackie Burns into a strong save.

Midfielder Tea Krznaric fired in two efforts, both of which flew off target, but Northern Ireland improved towards the end of the half as they dominated possession.

Brenna McPartlan volleyed wide, and Rebecca McKenna forced Doris Bacic into a low save when she tried her luck from the edge of the area.

Joely Andrews had an effort blocked from the resulting corner, and Danielle Maxwell's cross in stoppage time evaded everyone and landed just the wrong side of Bacic's post.

Wade keeps dream alive

Wade fired home a superb winner in extra-time

Northern Ireland were given a huge left-off at the start of the second half as Krznaric found space in the area but Burns was alert to keep the midfielder's effort out.

McKenna tried sparking the hosts into life as she worked her way into the box and her low, drilled effort was pushed away from Bacic.

Oxtoby introduced Louise McDaniel just shy of the hour mark, and McPartlan curled over from range but the hosts struggled to carve out any chances of note.

Izabela Lojna, who scored at both ends in the 1-1 draw in the first leg, skipped into the area and forced Burns into another strong save.

Magill, who has only just returned from injury for Birmingham City, was withdrawn with eight minutes to play and her replacement Emily Wilson immediately won a free-kick, with McPartlan heading wide.

Wilson was involved again after she was played through by McDaniel, but her pass across goal was cut out by Bacic.

There was a brief scare in stoppage time as Petra Pezelj fired straight at the keeper, but neither side could find the breakthrough and the game headed to extra time.

Extra time started with the same intensity that the second half ended with, and Maja Joscak had an effort deflected wide by McPartlan before the Croatian midfielder flicked her header over from the resulting corner.

There was a huge scare when Jana Canjevac fired across goal and Nat Johnson, introduced for her debut by Oxtoby, almost touched the ball over her own line but the 30-year-old was able to recover in what was the last play of the half.

After the restart, a combined heroic block by Rebecca Holloway and Johnson denied substitute Anela Lubina from 12 yards.

Having struggled to create any chances, Chloe McCarron found Lauren Wade on the edge of the area and her powerful effort was tipped over by Bacic with eight minutes to play.

But that was the moment that led to Wade’s stunning winner, as she reacted quickest to a ball on the edge of the area and her effort flew past Bacic to keep alive Northern Ireland's hopes of reaching another tournament.