NI boss Oxtoby 'super happy' despite Portugal defeat

Northern Ireland head Tanya Oxtoby says her players were "sensational" contempt a 2-1 conclusion by group leaders Portugal successful nan Euro 2025 qualifier astatine Moureview Park.

Portugal beat Northern Ireland 4-0 on Friday nighttime but it was a overmuch person brushwood 4 days later successful Lurgan.

Lauren Wade gave nan hosts an early lead but Portugal deed backmost pinch goals from Francisca Nazareth and Andreia Norton.

"I'm really proud of nan capacity - I thought we executed everything successful ample parts," said Oxtoby.

"We pushed them each nan measurement to nan extremity and from my constituent fo position I'm ace happy. I deliberation nan players tin beryllium really proud of themselves."

The consequence leaves Northern Ireland 3rd successful League B Group 3, 2 points down Bosnia-Herzgovina and 8 adrift of Portugal aft 4 games.

Wade's onslaught provided nan cleanable commencement and it was nan first extremity conceded by Portugal successful nan quaylifiers.

"To commencement good for illustration that gave america a bully instauration and a small spot of confidence. The girls were sensational," added Oxtoby.

"We didn't consciousness we were acold disconnected it connected Friday nighttime - I cognize nan people didn't bespeak that but from our constituent of position we felt were doing nan correct point dand we worked a batch connected nan transitional moments, trying to beryllium clinical."

Northern Ireland switched disconnected for Portugal's leveller and a correction led to their 2nd connected nan half-hour mark.

Oxtoby believes errors will beryllium made arsenic her young squad develops.

"I'll return that - I want america to effort and play successful nan correct moments and from my constituent of position nan much we effort to do that nan much we're going to advancement up nan transportation and nan much we're going to create.

"You person to beryllium brave and they didn't get overmuch wrong. That's a motion of a squad that's staring to turn successful confidence."