Tanya Oxtoby described Lauren Wade as ‘a gem’ after she struck a stunning goal to send Northern Ireland into the final Play-off stage of the Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers.
After 114 minutes of deadlock, Wade produced the piece of magic that her team needed when she smashed the ball into the top corner of the net to clinch a 1-0 victory over Croatia, winning 2-1 on aggregate.
Earlier, Wade had spent the 90 minutes plus most the first-half of an extra-time period in which Croatia looked the more likely team to score, at left-back, but the introduction of Nat Johnson for her senior international debut allowed the Hearts Women winger to move further up the pitch – and it was a move that had a major impact.
She had already brought a fingertip save from Croatia goalkeeper Doris Bacic when coming in from the left wing and, as Northern Ireland kept the ball alive from the resulting corner and Danielle Maxwell’s low cross was only partially cleared, Wade won a challenge and then let fly from the edge of the box with a superb strike that flew straight into the top right corner win what had been a tense and nervy contest.
Northern Ireland now face Euro 2022 Finals opponents Norway, whom they also met in qualification for that tournament, with a place in Switzerland next summer as the big prize.
“Lauren Wade did a job for us all night,” said Oxtoby.
“Her versatility is what we are all about. We dropped her a little bit deeper to give us something from those deeper spaces with a view that she was going to go forward towards the of the game when they were maybe tiring a little bit and that little bit of quality.
“What a goal – amazing goal.
“I’m just really, really happy for her because she always puts the team first every single time.
“When you look at the highlights reel across the campaign she pops up in everything in terms of all the good stuff that we do.
“She is definitely a gem.
“The goal was brilliant but I didn’t even know who had scored it at that point.”
It wasn’t just the impact of moving Wade into a more attacking position that allowed Northern Ireland to get a grip of the game just when Croatia were beginning to cause danger – Izabela Lojna, Maja Joscak and Janja Canjevac all had shots on goal that caused increasing degrees of panic, the biggest coming when Johnson almost turned Canjevac’s effort into her own net.
Wade is known for her goal scoring prowess and quality of strikes – her goal for Glasgow City in a Women’s Champions League tie against Wolfsburg in 2020 went viral – but, in terms of importance, none has been greater.
“It’s a very important goal and it’s definitely up there with one of the best I have scored.” said Wade, who backed up goals against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Portugal in the group stage.
“The significance of it, to win this Play-Off and now we’re in the final against Norway, I am absolutely buzzing. It’s brilliant.
“I think it’s what we deserved over the two legs. We know that Norway is going to be pretty tough, but it’s a Play-Off Final and anything can happen.”
Wade missed the Play-Off win over Ukraine that took Northern Ireland to the 2022 Finals through injury and that is adding to her excitement for the games against the Norwegians.
“I want to be involved. Representing my country is one of the proudest moments and we’ll be looking forward to the Final,” said Wade.
Oxtoby wasn’t in charge for the previous games against Norway in 2019 and 2022, but she is well aware of the size of the task that awaits against the former world, European and Olympic champions.
“We’ve said all along that if we want to get to a Euros we are going to have to play the best teams and beat the best teams, and it’s a great challenge for this young group,” said Oxtoby.
“We know the threats that Norway can pose, it’s a great challenge and not one we’re going to shy away from.”