Maxwell stunner saves NI against Hungary

Danielle Maxwell scored a superb equaliser as Northern Ireland drew 1-1 with Hungary in Group B1 in the Nations League at Seaview.

However, Northern Ireland responded when Maxwell powered home from the edge of the area with 11 minutes left.

The draw keeps alive Northern Ireland’s hopes of finishing second in the group and they sit one point behind Hungary.

The Republic of Ireland secured top spot and promotion with a rain-hit 1-0 win away to Albania as Eileen Gleeson’s side made it four wins from four.

Like in the reverse fixture on Friday, where Hungary scored a last-minute winner, the visitors started the brighter and Emoke Papai’s header was straight at Shannon Turner.

At the other end, the impressive Laura Rafferty, in for the suspended Rebecca Holloway, flicked a header on to Sarah McFadden, but the defender’s effort was cleared away.

When Hungary broke Turner produced a strong save to keep out Papai, who had raced through one on one after beating the offside trap.

Southampton defender Rafferty cleared off the line from Friday’s match-winner Hanna Nemeth, and she was again involved as Zeller shot at the defender before volleying over the rebound.

Northern Ireland were uncharacteristically sloppy at times in the first half and were fortunate when Viktoria Szabo fired straight at Turner and another poor pass forced the Wolves goalkeeper to parry the ball away.

The best chance of the half fell to McFadden just over the half-hour mark when she swivelled and fired a half-cleared corner inches wide of the post.

Northern Ireland grew into the half and Simone Magill forced Reka Szocs into a smart save, but the Aston Villa striker had drifted offside and it remained goalless at the break.

The opener came on 56 minutes when Zeller’s corner deceived everyone and nestled in the far corner.

That sparked Northern Ireland into life and they pressed forward, but Hungary looked dangerous on the counter-attack and Luca Papp fired wide from outside the area.

Maxwell curled wide in a bid to find a response, but the Cliftonville winger fired into the top corner from the edge of the area with 11 minutes to play for her first international goal. On Halloween night it was a spark from Maxwell that lit the firework Oxtoby needed.

Magill, who provided the lay off for Maxwell’s goal, sliced wide from the edge of the area, and the striker almost capitalised on a superb team move, but Szocs produced an important save to keep the scores level.

Both sides pushed for a decisive goal but had to settle for the draw as Northern Ireland maintained their unbeaten competitive run at Seaview, which stretches back to 2019.