Summary

  • Callaghan puts NI ahead on 16 mins

  • Furness doubles NI's lead on 23 minutes

  • Wilson adds third goal just before break

  • Wade hits fourth goal on 70 mins

  • Furness also hits woodwork with penalty

  • NI face Latvia at Windsor Park on Tuesday

  1. Next stop, Windsorpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    Pressure? What pressure.

    Northern Ireland were expected to beat Luxembourg at Inver Park tonight, and they did so comfortably.

    They went on the attack in the first minute and did so at will pretty much for the rest of the game.

    They could have scored more than the four goals delivered by Marissa Callaghan, Rachel Furness, Emily Wilson and Lauren Wade, but in truth they didn't need to.

    A Rachel Furness penalty in the second half that struck the post did not prove costly.

    Read Andy Gray's match report from Inver here.

    All roads now lead to Windsor Park on Tuesday night for Kenny Shiels' side and, with Latvia providing the opposition, he will no doubt be keen to make it two World Cup qualifying wins from two.

    Thanks for joining us joining us tonight - we'll have you covered for more of the same on Tuesday night. See you then.

  2. 'Three points on the board'published at 20:54 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    Gail Redmond
    Ex-Northern Ireland international on BBC Sport NI

    Quote Message

    That was a job well done for Northern Ireland tonight. Three important points on the board and the supporters sent home happy from Inver Park.

  3. Job donepublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at Inver Park

    Kenny Shiels will be wondering how his side only scored four, but that was a thoroughly professional display.

    All eyes move to Windsor Park on Tuesday...

  4. FULL-TIMEpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    No bother for Northern Ireland at Inver Park tonight.

    They were expected to beat Luxembourg and they have done so at a canter.

    First-half goals from Marissa Callaghan, Rachel Furness and Emily Wilson were added to by Lauren Wade - after Furness had struck a post with a penalty - midway through the second half.

    Kirsty McGuinness deserves special mention, too, for an outstanding performance on the left wing for Kenny Shiels' side.

  5. Skipper Vancepublished at 20:43 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    As if the night could not get any better for Demi Vance on her return from a long-term injury, but the Rangers player is now is possession of the captain's armband.

    That will mean a lot for the former Glentoran midfielder.

  6. McGuinness conducting the NI orchestrapublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    She might be playing out wide on the left, but Kirsty McGuiness has been running the show for Northern Ireland tonight.

    Almost every single home attack has come down that side, with her deliveries into the box of the highest quality.

    She has also just come within inches of scoring a smasher herself, too, with her well-hit left-foot shot skimming the top of the crossbar. If ever anyone deserved a goal.....

  7. This is how it feels to score your first international goalpublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    The picture says it all, really.

    Emily Wilson got her first Northern Ireland goal in the first half - and my goodness did she enjoy it.

    Emily WilsonImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Emily Wilson

  8. goal

    GOALpublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 4-0 Luxembourg

    Lauren Wade gets in on the act to grab Northern Ireland's fourth.

    The danger once again began with Kirsty McGuinness down the left, who cut the ball back well to Kerry Beattie.

    Her shot was closed down well but if dropped to her Glentoran team-mate who opened her body up nicely to slot home an assured finish.

    It's a goal that's been coming for a while.

  9. 'Visibility helps raise exposure'published at 20:25 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Gail Redmond
    Ex-Northern Ireland international on BBC Sport NI

    Quote Message

    The visibility really helps raise the exposure of the women's game - more people are aware of who the players are and more young people are getting involved in the sport. The players are role models and it's great to see them embracing that.

  10. Postpublished at 20:23 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at Inver Park

    The tempo has certainly dropped compared to the relentless first half but the introduction of Demi Vance and Kerry Beattie has brought some life back into the game.

    Vance, back after an ACL injury, is a huge player for this team and Beattie is tipped for big things after netting 22 goals for Glentoran this season.

    The pair nearly combined seconds after coming on, and Beattie has just fired an effort wide. That's more like it from the hosts.

  11. All smiles as Demi returnspublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    It's been a long road back to fitness for Demi Vance and she caps it off by coming off the bench here on the hour-mark.

    That will be a popular return for the Rangers player who suffered a long-term knee injury almost a year ago against Belarus.

    Young Glentoran striker Kerry Beattie has also come on for Northern Ireland. She knows where the net is.

    Demi VanceImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Demi Vance

  12. MISSED PENALTYpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Wow.

    We didn't expect that.

    Rachel Furness strikes the post with a 51st-minute penalty.

    The spot-kick was given for a Jessica Berscheid handball but the Liverpool midfielder could not convert what would have been her second goal of the night.

  13. We've seen this beforepublished at 20:08 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Rachel Furness has celebrated plenty of goals for Northern Ireland.

    Thirty-two to be precise after her headed effort tonight.

    And she's been threatening a second ever since.

    Rachel FurnessImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Rachel Furness celebrates

  14. We go againpublished at 20:03 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Second half as started in Larne.

    Northern Ireland on the attack already with a corner, that Rachel Furness heads over.

    She's been like a magnet to the crosses from McGuinness.

  15. Slick and professional half from hostspublished at 19:59 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at Inver Park

    That was a slick and professional first-half performance from the hosts.

    Luxembourg will need a miracle to get a way back into this one, so this could be a good opportunity for Kenny Shiels to bring on a few fresh legs and give the Inver Park crowd a show as the game goes on.

    There's a great buzz about the place after that first-half display.

  16. A first international goal for Wilsonpublished at 19:58 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Emily Wilson really wanted that goal.

    Rachel Furness was unlucky with a lovely free-kick, but when it came back off the post Wilson was determined to seize her opportunity to grab her first Northern Ireland goal.

    Media caption,

    Emily Wilson makes it 3-0 with her first Northern Ireland goal

  17. 'Kenny will want a professional performance'published at 19:54 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Gail Redmond
    Ex-Northern Ireland international

    Quote Message

    It's fitting that the crowd is in and they have got to see three great goals from Northern Ireland and I'm really excited for the second half. Kenny Shiels will probably talk about standards at half time and say that we need to have a professional performance, and move the ball quickly. You could see what it meant to Rachel Furness to be back and get her goal.

  18. HALF-TIMEpublished at 19:50 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Anyone hoping for an upset tonight may look elsewhere.

    Bit of a stroll in the (Inver) Park for Northern Ireland in that first half.

    They should have scored through Emily Wilson in the first minute, and they never really took the foot off the gas from then.

    Marissa Callaghan got the ball rolling with a lovely lob, Rachel Furness got her customary goal with a commanding header and Wilson then made up for that early miss with her first senior international goal.

    It's easy for the hosts. Kenny Shiels might be looking to give some players a breather in the second half.

  19. Postpublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at Inver Park

    Having spoken to Emily Wilson in the past that was a moment she has thought about for a long, long time.

    She refused to let her head drop after that earlier missed chance and she finally got her reward. You just have to look at the celebration to see how much that meant.

    That was the biggest cheer of the night so far.

  20. goal

    GOALpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 17 September 2021

    Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

    Emily Wilson makes it 3-0 to Northern Ireland with her first senior international goal.

    Rachel Furness looked like she was grabbing her second goal of the night, but her lovely curling free-kick came back off the inside of the post - and Wilson was alive to slot home the rebound.

    She enjoyed that one, and so did the Inver Park crowd.