Northern Ireland U19 beaten by Spain
Northern Ireland WU19s were defeated 6-
Mini tournament hosts Spain took the game to Northern Ireland from the start. Northern Ireland goalkeeper Kate Smith comfortably gathered
a shot from Spain attacker Daniela Agote before striker Marisa put a header wide and Smith saved a long range shot from Spanish defender
Martina Gonzalez. Midfielder Daniela Arques and Marisa once again were off target as Spain piled on the pressure.
Smith comfortably clutched an Agote shot and then gathered in a long range shot from Aiara Aguirrezabala, however the pressure eventually told on 38 minutes when Spain captain Cris Libran slipped the ball to forward Celia Segura and she clipped it into the top corner from the edge of the six-
Smith was called into action again shortly after when she held on to a Segura shot, while Agote steered an effort over the top.
Spain extended their lead in the 50th minute when midfielder Arques fired a free kick into the top corner from 25 yards.
It was 3-
In the 62nd minute Spain made it 4-
Cerrato then got her name on the scoresheet when she spun past her marker and drilled the ball into the net from 12 yards. Smith got a hand to it, however she could not keep it out.
The strong Spanish side had further chances, and Smith held on to a Cerrato snapshot, before they added a sixth deep into added time, Cerrato scoring with a powerful rising shot from an angle.
Matchday two in A6 will see Northern Ireland face Belgium at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday (30 November; 5pm kick off UK time), while their final group game, against Iceland, is due to be played at the Pinatar Arena Football Centre next Tuesday (3 December; 11am kick off UK time).
Spain: Laia, Martina Gonzalez, Aiara Aguirrezabala, Emma Galvez, Lorena Cubo, Elene Gurtubay, Daniela Agote, Daniela Arques, Marisa, Cris Libran, Celia Segura. Subs: Clara Serrajordi, Alba Cerrato, Irune Dorado, Noa Ortega, Emma Moreno, Julia Arrula, Claudia De La Cuerda, Noemi, Ainoa Gomez.
Northern Ireland: Kate Smith, Orleigha McGuinness, Sofie Keenan, Faye Loughran, Abi Sweetlove, Clodagh Maguire, Rachel McIntyre, Aimee Kerr, Kascie Weir, Niamh Boothroyd, Gracie Conway, Subs: Niamh O’Donnell, Sophie Kelly-
(irishfa.com)