Northern Ireland's World Cup qualification hopes suffered a significant blow as they were beaten 4-0 by Portugal in the first leg of their play-off tie at Inver Park in Larne, with Portugal's clinical first-half showing proving too much to overcome. Yet amid the disappointment, the introduction of debutant Kess Elmore at half-time provided a rare positive for the home side.
Portugal, ranked 22nd in the world, dominated the opening 45 minutes and built a commanding lead before the break. Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle turned to Elmore at the interval, handing her a surprise first cap after she had last been involved with the squad during a training camp back in 2021.
The second half saw a marked improvement from the hosts, with Elmore's energy and movement in the final third giving Northern Ireland a different look going forward. Although the scoreline remained unchanged, her performance suggested she could become a valuable attacking option for McArdle moving forward.
Reflecting on her call-up, Elmore admitted she had not expected to hear from the manager after such a long gap since her last involvement. "I wasn't expecting Michael to call me. It was in the back of my mind, but definitely something that I kind of thought had passed," she said. She also spoke about the experience she could bring to a relatively youthful squad, noting her time across various teams and systems. "I've played in a lot of teams with a lot of different formations, tactics and, over the years, I have gained a real understanding of the game. So, hopefully I can bring a bit of that experience into the squad because we do have a young squad and I bring an attacking presence."
Describing her mindset coming off the bench, Elmore said her priority was to inject intensity into the performance after Portugal's dominant start. "I just wanted to come on and bring energy and work for the team. Portugal had a lot of momentum in the first half, so I kind of wanted to shift that in our favour and I feel like the second half was a lot better." She added that she was pleased to play a part in the improved display, while acknowledging the quality of the opposition: "We knew it was going to be a very defensive game for us but huge respect to Portugal and what they can do."
Elmore was one of three players to earn their first international cap in the match, a sign of McArdle's efforts to broaden his options and strengthen the squad's depth ahead of a daunting second leg.
Notably, Elmore operated as a lone striker for much of her debut, a role she is not accustomed to at club level with Sparta Prague, where she typically features on the wing or in midfield. The former England youth international, who has already featured in the Champions League and Europa League this season, said she was open to playing wherever she was needed. "That was the first time playing centre-forward for a very long time since university. I like any of the attacking positions and anywhere attacking, I'm happy to play. I mean, anywhere the team needs me, I'm happy to be there."
McArdle was encouraged by what he saw from his new forward, suggesting she could add a fresh dimension to the team's attacking play. "I think with Kess come on, obviously making her debut as well, I think that brings a nice energy," McArdle said. "I'm grateful that we've all seen Kess because you'll see what I see now. There is someone here who can add to the group and give us something going forward and in the final third, so delighted that she's gone on the pitch."
Northern Ireland will now travel to Portimao for the second leg on Tuesday, facing a steep challenge to overturn the four-goal deficit against a Portugal side that showed why they remain one of Europe's most formidable opponents.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.