Northern Ireland v Montenegro: Tanya Oxtoby’s side to remain in League B following aggregate win

Northern Ireland will remain in League B of the Nations League after they drew 1-1 with Montenegro in the second leg of their promotion/relegation play-off.

The goal sparked Tanya Oxtoby’s side into life and they were level seven minutes later when Simone Magill met Ellie Mason’s knockdown and finished from close range.

Magill also hit the crossbar earlier.

Northern Ireland made a bright start to the game as Joely Andrews dragged a low shot wide in the opening minute.

They were indebted to their goalkeeper Maddy Harvey-Clifford for keeping their lead intact on eight minutes, however, as she produced a huge save to deny Armisa Kuc from close range.

Jasna Djokovic cut out a loose pass from Chloe McCarron and played in Montenegro’s record goalscorer Kuc, whose low shot was palmed away by the Crusaders goalkeeper.

Momentum continued to shift from one side to the other in a frantic opening to the game, with Rebecca McKenna surging forward from right-back and delivering a dangerous low cross, but Andrews and Magill got in each other’s way.

After their dominant opening and much like the first leg, the hosts struggled with their final pass.

Their two-goal advantage was almost reduced when Helena Bozic headed wide from a free-kick on 35 minutes.

Northern Ireland’s clearest opportunity came on the stroke of half-time, with Magill threading the ball through to Caragh Hamilton, who raced into the box before seeing her low shot saved by Anastasija Krstovic.

The ball still trickled towards the goalline before it was cleared off the line.

Magill strikes after Montenegro scare

Clear-cut chances continued to be at a premium in the second half, until Montenegro’s opener arrived.

Jelena Karlicic whipped in a corner and Desic evaded Rebecca McKenna to power a bullet header past Harvey-Clifford.

The goal seemed to jolt Northern Ireland into life, and they went close 71 minutes, when Hamilton fizzed in a low cross to Magill, who, on the slide, hit the crossbar.

The rebound fell invitingly for substitute Danielle Maxwell, but her low shot was tipped away Krstovic.

The goalkeeper, though, was powerless to prevent the home side from levelling a minute later.

Maxwell floated the ball to Mason at the back post and the defender headed the ball into the path of Magill, who slotted home.

The game really began to open up in the final 15 minutes with chances for both sides to grab a winner on the night.

Masa Tomasevic saw her shot from outside the area pushed away by Harvey-Clifford before Sladjana Bulatovic headed over.

Mason’s audacious lofted effort from range landed on the roof of the net for Northern Ireland with Marissa Callaghan also going close.