International friendly
Northern Ireland 0-1 Scotland
Thursday 10 June 2021, kick-off 7pm (UK time)
Seaview Stadium, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Scotland: Weir (78)

Scotland Women’s National Team got their double-header friendlies of to a strong start with a win against Northern Ireland.

A penalty from Weir ensured Stuart McLaren and his players retained their undefeated reign in 10 games over Northern Ireland as the teams prepare for the World Cup qualifiers in September.

Team News

Brianna Westrup earned her first Scotland cap by making the starting XI, along with Leah Eddie and Christy Grimshaw who came on as substitutes in the 79th and 83rd minute.

We also saw the return of Lana Clelland in the starting XI, while captain Rachel Corse, Caroline Weir, Kim Little and Erin Cuthbert were on the bench.

As it happened

A goal from Weir was enough for Scotland to take the win tonight at Seaview Stadium which will give Scotland a boost ahead of their game against Wales next week.

Scotland’s biggest opportunity came from Claire Emslie in the 41st minute who turned the defender before her shot clipped the crossbar. Moments later Rachel McLauchlan’s shot went just wide of the post. The team were utilising the pockets of space Northern Ireland left open but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Northern Ireland’s McGuiness was Scotland’s biggest threat as she made bursting runs down the left hand-side, but she was no match for Westrup and Howard who did well holding the fort in the back defence. The home side also had a free kick form a dangerous area just outside the 18 yard after Caldwell was fouled, but the attempt from McCarron which just went over the crossbar not troubling Lee Alexander.

Northern Ireland was quick off the mark at the start of the second half with chances by Wade and captain Callaghan, but Lee Alexander was quick off the line to gather the ball comfortably on both instances.

The first yellow card of the match went to Northern Ireland’s McFadden for a foul on Brown who was making a good run towards the goal, before good attempts were made by Robertson, Hanson and Brown which was cleared.

Scotland’s chance came in the 77th minute when a foul on Murray led to a penalty to the away side. The penalty was taken comfortably by Caroline Weir who fired it into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. The goalkeeper went the right way but was unable to save the shot.

Next up

The team will now travel to Swansea to face Wales for their final game before the World Cup qualifiers in September.

The game will take place on Tuesday 15 June 2021 at Parc y Scarlets Stadium, kicking-off at 7:15pm.

You can watch the game on BBC Wales and iPlayer.

Teams

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna, Nelson, Rafferty (Wilson, 81), Holloway, McFadden, Callaghan (c) (Watling  81), Caldwel (Finnegan, 46), McCarron (Beattie, 81), Wade (McDaniel, 60), McGuinness (Kelly, 60)

Unused subs: Flaherty, Wilson, Haughey, Howe, Andrews, Morgan

Scotland: Alexander (c, GK), McLauchlan, Westrup (Eddie, 79), Howard, Doherty, Arthur, Murray (Graham, 83), Robertson (Weir, 63), Clelland (Brown, 46), Hanson (Arnot, 79), Emslie (Grimshaw, 90)

Unused subs: Smith, Corsie, Little, Cumings, Eddie, Fife, Cuthbert, Arnot