NI GIRLS BEATEN BY STRONG ROMANIAN SIDE
Release Date: 21/09/2011 IFA website
NORTHERN Ireland suffered a setback to their hopes of reaching the next stage of the UEFA Under 19 Women’s Championship after a 3-0 defeat to a powerful Romanian side in Hoboken, Belgium, on Monday.
The main architect of the Romanian victory, the muscular centre forward, Alex Lunca, netted three times to bring her total to nine goals in two games – she scored six of her side’s seven goals in their demolition of Lithuania last Saturday – and the Northern Ireland’s girls found it difficult to cope with her devastating runs and powerful shooting.
Northern Ireland were on the defensive from the start of the match, and the central defensive pairing of Nicole Connolly and Sarah Gamble did well to hold the slick Romanians to a single goal in the first half.
Indeed, as the game progressed, Northern Ireland began to threaten mainly through Simone Magill and Hollie Campbell, but a strike from Lunca in the 63 minute destroyed any hopes of Northern Ireland stealing a point, and her late goal, following indecision in the defence, means that qualification for the next stage of the Under 19 Championship effectively depends on other results.
On Thursday, Northern Ireland play Lithuania, and a victory in that match could see them finish second in the group, provided the Romanians beat Belgium by a big score.
In the event of a narrow Romanian victory (and they have of course already qualified ), a draw, or a Belgian win, Northern Ireland can still qualify as one of three third-placed teams in the 10 qualifying groups.
