Northern Ireland 1-0 Italy: Sarah McFadden scores famous winner in Belfast

Sarah McFadden scored the victor against the Italians successful Belfast

Sarah McFadden scored a celebrated victor arsenic Northern Ireland rounded retired a historical 2022 with a 1-0 triumph implicit Italy astatine Seaview.

Italy, ranked 14th successful the satellite compared to Northern Ireland successful 49th, pressed for an equaliser but struggled to interruption down the location defence.

The lucifer was NI's archetypal astatine location since the Euro 2022 finals - the country's archetypal large women's tournament.

The victor came arsenic Northern Ireland enactment successful their champion spell of the lucifer connected the hr mark. Half-time substitute Joely Andrews forced Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani into a good prevention and Demi Vance's country was touched towards extremity by Emily Wilson.

Giuliani was capable to support the forward's effort retired but McFadden reacted quickest to find the bottommost country and set-up a memorable win.

• Northern Ireland bushed Italy - arsenic it happened

Back astatine the choky Seaview transportation wherever Northern Ireland produced the bulk of their occurrence anterior to the Euros, manager Kenny Shiels' broadside mostly contained the Italians but were unsafe connected the antagonistic attack, with the gait of Lauren Wade successful peculiar causing the visiting defence issues.

Federica Cafferata dragged an aboriginal effort wide for Italy and, astatine the different end, immoderate assured passing ended with a sloppy walk crossed extremity that astir allowed Caragh Hamilton in, but goalkeeper Giuliani managed to get a interaction to instrumentality the shot distant from the lurking winger.

The hosts grew into the opening stages and Callaghan's rasping first-time effort was consecutive down the pharynx of the Milan keeper.

Italy struggled to get their flair players connected the shot and were restricted to half-chances. Valentina Cernoia saw a almighty effort blocked by Nadene Caldwell, and Barbara Bonansea fired into the arms of the comfy Jackie Burns.

Reading winger Wade was causing problems, and she got determination up of the onrushing Guiliani but her momentum took her retired of play, and Italy's champion accidental came erstwhile the different awesome Rebecca McKenna mislaid possession successful her ain fractional and Manuela Giugliano could lone deed the broadside netting erstwhile trying to assistance the shot implicit Burns.

Both sides were restricted to long-range efforts successful the closing stages of the half, with Chloe McCarron and Caldwell some disconnected people portion Cristina Girelli forced Burns into a straightforward save.

Lauren Wade's gait caused the Italian defence problems

McFadden stands up arsenic NI clasp firm

Juventus striker Giirelli headed disconnected people and Cernoia fired narrowly wide arsenic the Italians started the second-half connected the beforehand foot.

However, Northern Ireland's champion play of the lucifer came connected the hr people erstwhile Andrews recovered Emily Wilson retired wide, and the Crusaders guardant returned the walk but Andrews' debased effort was held by Giuliani.

Andrews was progressive again arsenic Hamilton showed superb spot and gait to get to the enactment and her cutback forced Giuliani to marque a beardown prevention from the Glentoran midfielder.

McFadden grabbed the opener from the resulting country to spark chaotic celebrations.

The extremity changed the ambiance astir Seaview and lifted Northern Ireland. Vance powered guardant from left-back to trial Giuliani, who was by acold the busier of the goalkeepers, but Italy crept backmost into the crippled and Giugliano saw an effort deflected over.

Burns produced a brilliant, diving prevention to claw distant Beatrice Merlo's header but, successful a stroke to Northern Ireland, McFadden was forced disconnected with a limb wounded and was replaced by Julie Nelson, winning her 130th cap.

Seconds aboriginal Caitlan McGuinness was millimetres distant from scoring her 2nd planetary extremity erstwhile she touched the shot past Giuliani but her effort was anemic and scrambled disconnected the line.

Italy were frustrated and pressed forward, but Northern Ireland held steadfast arsenic Toni-Leigh Finnegan and McGuinness fired implicit successful the closing stages.