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 defeat at Inver Park.

Underdogs heading into the first-leg tie, the hosts were well beaten and face a mammoth task to overturn the deficit in Tuesday's return in Portimao.

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

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

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

Catarina Amado was sent off for a second yellow card with 26 minutes left to hand the hosts momentum, but Fatima Pinto's goal gave them a commanding four-goal advantage , and Cora Chambers was dismissed for Northern Ireland in added time.

A play-off final will most likely be against an Iceland side who also won their first leg 4-0 in Croatia.

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 regroup for the second leg.

Northern Ireland will be without 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."