Simone Magill Leads Northern Ireland to Dramatic Nations League Comeback Win

INVER PARK, Northern Ireland — Simone Magill scored two late goals, leading Northern Ireland to a thrilling comeback victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday evening.

The match at Inver Park saw Northern Ireland secure their first win of the campaign, demonstrating resilience after being down at halftime. Brenna McPartlan initially gave Northern Ireland the lead, but Bosnia-Herzegovina rallied with two quick goals from Marija Milinkovic and Emina Ekic early in the second half.

Despite the setback, Magill stepped up in the closing minutes, showcasing her leadership and composure. Her first goal came when she met a cross from Ellie Mason, finishing with a deft header to level the score. Just moments later, Magill struck again, chesting down another long ball and finding the corner of the net to clinch the win.

“Never in doubt… I’m only joking, obviously, but that was a captain’s performance by Magill,” said Andy Gray, BBC Sport NI reporter, reflecting on her pivotal role.

With her two goals, Magill increased her international tally to 27, solidifying her role as a key player for Northern Ireland. This victory also propelled Northern Ireland to second place in League B Group 1 of the Nations League.

Coach Tanya Oxtoby expressed her pride in the team’s fighting spirit. “The girls showed incredible determination to come back from behind. That’s the kind of character we want in this team,” Oxtoby said.

Northern Ireland’s win marks their third consecutive victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, having previously defeated them 3-1 in Zenica in April and winning 2-0 at home a month later. The two teams are set to meet again in June.

Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland faced a disappointing 4-0 loss against Slovenia in Koper earlier in the evening. Slovenia’s Lara Prasnikar opened the scoring within three minutes, and the hosts capitalized on defensive errors to extend their lead with two more goals before halftime. The Republic’s best chance came from Denise O’Sullivan, who hit the crossbar late in the second half.

Head coach Carla Ward, who started her tenure with a victory over Turkey, will have plenty to analyze following this defeat.

The results of the matches reflect the competitive nature of the Nations League and set the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament in the coming months.