Northern Ireland began their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win over Luxembourg in front of 1,500 fans at Inver Park in Larne.
Rachel Furness – returning from a broken leg sustained in April – played in Marissa Callaghan who lifted the ball over onrushing keeper Lucie Schlimé for the opening goal.
Furness then found the net herself, meeting Kirsty McGuinness’s corner with a powerful header back across the keeper.
Emily Wilson, Sarah McFadden and Rebecca Holloway were all denied a goal one after the other but Wilson did open her account when following up Furness’s free-kick that came back off the post.
Luxembourg conceded a penalty for handball early in the second half, although Furness was again to be thwarted by the woodwork.
It was instead Lauren Wade who got the fourth goal, slotting into the bottom corner after a shot was blocked.
Next up for Kenny Shiels’ side is Latvia at Windsor Park on Tuesday, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI from 7pm.
