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Highlights: Pajor double helps Poland beat Northern Ireland

Poland produced a ruthless display to beat Northern Ireland 4-0 in the Women's Nations League at Seaview.

Poland captain Ewa Pajor marked her 100th cap with two quickfire goals as Paulina Tomasiak and Adriana Achcinska also netted as the vistors secured automatic promotion back to League A.

Tanya Oxtoby will rue an error-strewn first-half display, with her side gifting Poland three soft goals.

Northern Ireland face Bosnia-Herzegovina in their last game in Zenica on Tuesday, knowing a win would guarantee a promotion play-off.

Pajor pounces early

Ewa Pajor celebrates scoringImage source, Getty Images
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Pajor scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes

NI were hoping for a quick start like they produced in their win against Romania last time out.

They were returning to Seaview for the first time since October 2023, a stadium that had served them so well in the past, but their start mirrored the one they made in Gdansk as they found themselves 2-0 down after 10 minutes.

Pajor nearly scored after just 40 seconds as she lifted the ball over the onrushing Jackie Burns but her effort bounced just over the crossbar.

The striker was not to be denied on five minutes as she prodded home from Martyna Wiankowska's cross.

She doubled her and Poland's tally on nine minutes, capitalising on an error from Burns.

The goalkeeper was caught in possession on the edge of the box and Pajor nipped in to dispossess her before rolling the ball into an empty net for her 68th international goal.

Tomasiak smashed home a fine third from close range on 27 minutes as the ball fell kindly for her in the box after Northern Ireland failed to clear their lines.

Simone Magill was the one bright spark for NI in a tough first half, but her shot from a narrow angle was blocked by Wiktoria Zieniewicz.

Burns was then forced to thwart Tomasiak and Natalia Padilla, with Oxtoby's side relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

Achcinska adds fourth

Adriana Achcinska celebrates scoringImage source, Getty Images
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Achcinska finished off an incisive Polish move to score their fourth early in the second half

Northern Ireland were caught napping again after the restart as Poland got their fourth a minute into the second half following a free-flowing move which resulted in Achcinska tucking home after being found in the box by Pajor.

Padilla volleyed into the side netting with Burns pushing Ewelina Kamczyk's effort behind as Poland continued to dominate.

Pajor was substituted before she could score a hat-trick as Poland began to ease the pressure on NI with their comfortable advantage already secured.

Oxtoby introduced the likes of Lauren Wade, Danielle Maxwell, Emily Wilson and Aimee Kerr for her debut as NI looked to respond and find a consolation goal.

They had their first shot on goal on 85 minutes as Rebecca Holloway tested Kinga Szemik, with the goalkeeper palming the ball into the path of Rebecca McKenna, whose shot whistled just over the crossbar.

Wilson then saw her low cross cleared off the line by Kayla Adamek, before her sweeping effort clipped the crossbar.

NI's promotion hopes remain in their own hands after Bosnia's defeat by Romania on Friday but they will have to bounce back quickly from this dispiriting defeat.