Northern Ireland Advances to Euro 2025 Play-Offs

Northern Ireland secured a place in the Euro 2025 play-offs with a 2-0 victory over Malta at the Centenary Stadium. An early own goal by Emma Lipman and a late goal from Kerry Beattie ensured the win for Tanya Oxtoby’s side, who will discover their play-off opponents on July 19. Northern Ireland, looking to rebound from a narrow loss to Portugal, made four changes to their lineup, including starting forwards Casey Howe and Beattie.

Despite the Ta’ Qali heat, Malta started strong with early chances, including a shot that hit the post and a towering header saved by Jackie Burns. The breakthrough for Northern Ireland came in the ninth minute when Lipman’s attempted back-pass to goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer went awry and ended up in the net. The first half saw a flurry of activity with Ebejer making a fine save from Rachel Dugdale’s header and Rebecca Holloway missing a chance.

The second half was quieter with Northern Ireland patiently seeking to extend their lead. They finally succeeded in the 80th minute when Beattie headed in a close-range goal from a Rebecca McKenna delivery. Oxtoby’s team now focuses on their final qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina at Windsor Park. A win in this match would secure second place in their group behind Portugal, potentially making them a seeded team in the play-off draw.

Overall, Northern Ireland’s performance was marked by resilience and strategic play, with a notable defensive effort and timely goals that ensured their progression to the next stage of Euro 2025 qualification.