NI World Cup hopes gone from 'improbable to impossible'

Michael McArdle admits Northern Ireland's chances of beating Portugal in a 2027 Women's World Cup play-off semi-final have "gone from improbable to impossible" after a 4-0 first leg defeat at Inver Park.

Underdogs heading into the tie, Northern Ireland were 3-0 down at the break as a Telma Encarnacao penalty, a Jessica Silva finish and Rebecca Holloway's own goal gave Portugal a comfortable lead.

Catarina Amado was sent off for a second yellow card with 25 minutes left to hand Northern Ireland momentum, but Fatima Pinto's goal meant Portugal will head into the second leg with a four-goal advantage.

The second leg takes place in Portimao on Tuesday, but Portugal are well-placed to set up a second round play-off tie, most likely against an Iceland side who won 4-0 in Croatia in their first leg.

McArdle, who took over as Northern Ireland manager in March, felt there were positives from the game but said the scoreline was "sore" and "it hurts".

"It feels a bit harder on us than the actual game produced," said the Scot.

"We're hurting in that aspect. There are lots of positives there, which we'll take and we'll move forward for the longer process.

"But in the shorter term, the tie becomes, from a case of being improbable to impossible now, with the four-goal deficit."

Missing a number of experienced players, including captain Simone Magill, Laura Rafferty and Nadene Caldwell, McArdle handed a debut to defender Jane McMaster and first caps to Kess Elmore and Charlotte Havern off the bench.

McMaster responded well after giving away the early penalty for Encarnacao's opener, while Kelmore was lively in the second half and, at 16, it was a big moment for Cliftonville's Havern to be introduced with 10 minutes remaining.

"It's fundamental, especially for our younger players, to get this exposure," McArdle added.

"It's a risk and it's brave, but it's one that will definitely 100% stand strong with us in the long term.

"It will give us that sustainable opportunity to qualify for tournaments in the longer run because we need our younger players to get this exposure, but also for a lot of our senior players as well."

After impressing in the second half before Pinto's goal took the wind out of their sails, McArdle said his players will "hurt for the next 24 hours or so" but will regroup for the second leg.

Northern Ireland will be without Cora Chambers, who was sent off in the closing stages for grabbing the hair of Carolina Correia.

"There's the travel over to Portugal thrown in to allow us to relax a wee bit afterwards.

"But once we get there, we'll look forward to Tuesday again.

"We're trying to qualify, but there is a longer process as well that we'll use Tuesday night for."