It was a sobering night for Northern Ireland as they suffered a 5-1 defeat away in Sweden during a friendly match held on March 25, 2025, at the Strawberry Arena in Solna. Sweden was determined to bounce back after a surprising loss to Luxembourg just days earlier, and they did so convincingly with a strong performance that showcased their attacking prowess.
The evening got off to a turbulent start for Northern Ireland when they conceded an early goal. Emil Holm opened the scoring in the seventh minute, capitalizing on a setup by the talented Alexander Isak, who had been impressive throughout the match. Isak lured defenders before passing the ball to Holm, who netted easily from close range.
After their shaky kickoff, Northern Ireland gradually found their footing and created some chances. Players like Brodie Spencer and Shea Charles put Sweden under pressure with several attacks. However, their efforts were not enough to break through Sweden's defense, and in the 33rd minute, Northern Ireland faced another setback when Benjamin Nygren tapped in from an open net after a defensive error from goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who had palmed away a dangerous cross from Gabriel Gudmundsson.
As the game continued, Northern Ireland's struggles would only deepen. Just after the hour mark, Ken Sema added Sweden's third goal, striking in the rebound after Nygren's original effort struck the post. The Swedish team was gaining momentum, and their fourth goal came shortly after, with Isak firing a sensational shot from 25 yards to extend the lead further.
Yes, Northern Ireland did have their moments, and George Saville came close to scoring. He saw a powerful curling shot tipped over the bar with a stunning save from Swedish goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. Yet, it was not to be for Northern Ireland, and they found themselves trailing 4-0.
With just 13 minutes left in the game, Anthony Elanga added a fifth goal for Sweden after coming on as a substitute, converting a well-placed cross from Niclas Eliasson. Northern Ireland, feeling the weight of the match's events, only found the net once, with Isaac Price grabbing a consolation goal in the 90th minute, which took a deflection before going past Johansson, to end the match at 5-1.
This defeat marks the end of Northern Ireland's five-match unbeaten run, which had included a recent 1-1 draw with Switzerland. Coach Michael O’Neill will be reflecting on this performance as he prepares his team for future matches. O’Neill's side is slated to compete against Luxembourg, Germany, and Slovakia in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers starting in September, hoping to learn and improve rapidly from this experience.
Player ratings reflected the team’s overall performance, with standout performers being Shea Charles, who received an 8 for his diligent effort and leadership, and Pierce Charles, who was rated 7 for his passing accuracy. Other players like Devlin and Devenny were rated 6 as they struggled to cope with the Swedish pressure. Substitutes Marshall and Bonis also received ratings of 6 for their contributions after coming on late in the match.
As Northern Ireland heads back home, they must rebuild from this experience and regain their focus. The lessons learned from tougher competition like Sweden will be invaluable in their pursuit of success in the World Cup qualifiers. The defeat at Stockholm serves as a glaring reminder of the work that lies ahead and the depth of change needed to improve their defense and finishing. Fans and players alike will be hoping for a better showing in June when they face friendlies against Iceland and Denmark.
