N. Ireland’s Nelson savours historic goal at Women’s Euros

N. Ireland’s Nelson savours historic goal at Women’s Euros

The 37-year-old defender is the oldest goalscorer in the tournament's history.

Northern Ireland’s Julie Nelson celebrates after scoring her side’s first goal during the Women’s Euro 2022 football match. (AP pic)
BELFAST:
Julie Nelson headed her name into the record books at the Women’s European Championship yesterday after not only becoming Northern Ireland’s first goalscorer at a major finals but also the oldest one in the tournament’s history.

Aged 37 years and 33 days, defender Nelson scored Northern Ireland’s only goal as they were outclassed 4-1 by Norway in their Group A opener at St Mary’s Stadium.

Nelson nodded home with her side trailing 3-0 at the break to surpass Italy’s Patrizia Panico as the oldest scorer at the Women’s Euros.

“I definitely didn’t think I’d be the one getting on the scoresheet, it’s been a couple of years since I scored,” Nelson said. “It’s an incredible feeling to score the first goal for Northern Ireland in a major championship.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult match. They’re not 11th in the world for no reason, and we were a bit nervy in the first 15 minutes and conceded a couple of goals. But I thought we stepped up after that and did our best.”

Northern Ireland next face Austria in Southampton on Monday.

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