CLASSY NORTH REACH FINALS FOR FIRST TIME

MARISSA CALLAGHAN and Nadene Caldwell confirmed Northern Ireland Women’s qualification for the Euro 2022 finals as they secured a 2-0 playoff second leg victory over Ukraine last night. Skipper Callaghan’s 55th-minute strike gave her side the lead at Seaview in Belfast before substitute Caldwell added a second deep into stoppage time to make it 4-1 on aggregate and ensure the nation’s first ever participation at a finals tournament. Kenny Shiels’ side, who won 2-1 in Kovalivka on Friday, started brightly and threatened from a series of early set-pieces which repeatedly put goalkeeper Kateryna Samson under pressure. Northern Ireland keeper Jackie Burns was relieved to see Daryna Apanaschenko drag her shot wide in first-half added time. In an untidy start to the second half, the home side dominated without creating genuine chances and when they finally did take the lead on the night it was a result of persistence rather than quality. Callaghan chased down a loose ball and stabbed it past Samson. The visitors unravelled as time ran down as midfielder Natiya Pantsulaya was sent off for a cynical foul on Sarah McFadden, before Caldwell made sure in the sixth minute of added time to spark joyous celebrations.