Tanya Oxtoby pinpointed Northern Ireland’s resilience and the impact of two of her substitutes as crucial in securing a 1-1 draw in Croatia that leave the Women’s Euro 2025 Play-off tie on a knife edge going into Tuesday’s second leg at Windsor Park.
A 92nd minute own goal, when Izabela Lojna put the ball into the same net that she had scored a fifth-minute penalty in, means that it is all to play for in return tie.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns had fallen into Croatia striker Ivana Rudelic to concede the penalty but, just when it looked like Northern Ireland would trail going into the second game, Casey Howe whipped the ball in low from the left after exchanging passes with fellow substitute Louise McDaniel at a corner and Lojna’s outstretched leg diverted it into the net at the front post.
“Credit again to the finishers coming off the bench, they’ve come in and they’ve impacted the game in a really positive way and that’s what we’re asking,” said Oxtoby.
“It’s not just about the players that start, it’s about the ones that are coming into the game as well and massive credit to them because they are the ones that at the end of the day have managed to push us over the line and go back with a really good foundation to put in a really good performance on Tuesday night.”
Northern Ireland had to battle against a highly physical Croatia team, whose approach prevented Oxtoby’s team from getting into any real flow throughout the game, particularly in the second half.
The repeated fouling, which went without a yellow card from Portuguese referee Sandra Bastos until 13 minutes from the end, kicked in after Simone Magill hit the crossbar from Danielle Maxwell cross a minute after the Croatia goal and Laura Rafferty smashed a shot just wide soon after.
“Obviously the penalty early on is not the start we wanted, but what I would say is that the response was exceptional,” said Oxtoby.
“Our first-half performance we got into the right areas, we played the patterns we were looking to pull off, so from that point of view it’s really pleasing, and I suppose the grit and determination to make sure that we took something back to Windsor Park with the draw in the end is what this group is all about now.
“It can’t always be pretty and it can’t always be nice, but they will dig in and they will work hard for each other.
“The first half probably had the better football from us and the second half had everything we needed to make sure we got something out of the game.”
Once Croatia started to break up play at every given opportunity chances were few and far between. Rebecca McKenna failed to find Lauren Wade in a good position after getting high on the right wing in the second half before Howe tricked her way into an area where she could get a shot away, but fired wildly over soon after coming on.
With a second leg to come and home advantage in that game there was never any need for Northern Ireland to panic – although facing a must-win game against a team who employed such ultra defensive tactics at home would not have been ideal.
Howe’s dangerous ball into the box, while not aimed at any particular Northern Ireland player at the front post area, has, however, changed the complexion of the tie.
“What’s so pleasing about the performance is that they could have rested, they could have taken their foot off the gas and they didn’t, they pushed and pushed and now we go back and it’s a clean slate for both teams,” said Oxtoby.
“We’ve got one more to go, it’s a big push, I know they are really up for it and they are really excited to get back home.”