Women's Nations League: Northern Ireland swept aside by classy Poland

Northern Ireland were swept aside at Seaview by a classy Poland outfit as their hopes of topping their Nations League group were dashed in emphatic fashion.

Poland won the group with a dominant performance in Belfast as their undoubted class showed, especially in the first half, as they comfortably saw off Tanya Oxtoby's side, who contributed to their own downfall at times.

Poland almost went in front inside 60 seconds when visiting captain Ewa Pajor lobbed the advancing Jackie Burns, only for the ball to bounce over the bar

But it took just five minutes for the visitors to go in front take as this time Pajor made no mistake to get on the end of a Martyna Wiankowska cross from the left and poke home from six yards out.

Things got even worse for Oxtoby’s side just three minutes later and this time, they were the architects of their own downfall after an absolute howler from Burns.

The goalkeeper got caught in possession 20 yards out and that allowed Pajor to nick the ball off her and slot into the open net for her second of the game.

They could have made it three before the quarter of an hour mark, when Ewelina Kamczyk glanced her header wide with the Northern Ireland defence al over the place in the early stages.

The third did arrive shortly before the half hour as the tie was realistically put beyond doubt.

Once again, Northern Ireland were careless at the back as Burns’ miskicked clearance saw Brenna McPartlan hesitate and that allowed the ball to fall to Paulina Tomasiak inside the box and she rifled home.

The visitors had further efforts from Tomasiak and Tanja Pawollek that Burns was equal to as Poland peppered the Northern Ireland goal at the tail end of the half.

But Nina Patalon’s side took just two minutes of the second half to grab their fourth, and if there was any doubt over the final result, it was well and truly laid to rest as Adriana Achcinska blasted home from inside the box.

Despite Poland having the bulk of the possession for the remainder of the game, Northern Ireland did create some chances of their own in the final few minutes, with subs Lauren Wade, Aimee Kerr on her senior debut and Emily Wilson all going close - the latter hitting the crossbar.

But it was to no avail and Oxtoby is left to pick her side up for Tuesday's clash away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with second place in the group still very much up for grabs.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna, Holloway, Mason, Sweetlove (Wade 55), McPartlan (Dugdale 70), Caldwell, Bell (Maxwell H-T), Andrews, Magill (C) (Kerr 85), Weir (Wilson 70)

Subs not used: A Smith (GK), K Smith (GK), Furness, Johnson, Halliday, McDaniel, Hamilton

Poland: Szemik, Zieniewicz (Adamek 85), Wiankowska, Dudek (Cyraniak 68), Szymczak, Pawollek, Achcinska (Kokoz 85), Kamczyk (Mesjasz 68), Tomasiak, Pajor (C) (Grabowska 68), Padilla

Subs not used: Radkiewicz (GK), Seweryn (GK), Zaremba, Zawistowska, Brodzik, Jedlinska, Slowinska

Referee: Minka Vekkeli (Finland)

Attendance: 2,482