Wade started the game at left-back before moving to a more advanced left-wing role late in the game, a planned move from Oxtoby which paid dividends.

"We dropped her a bit deeper to give us something from the deeper spaces, with the view that she was going to go forward at the end of the game when they were tiring a bit to give us that bit of quality and balance," she explained.

"What a goal, I'm really happy for her."

The Australian, who admitted that Northern Ireland had practised penalties yesterday and were "prepared" for a shootout, conceded that her overriding feeling when the goal went in was relief.

"I felt like it was coming, and I'm really pleased with that reward for the effort," she continued.

"We had to dig in when the momentum wasn't with us and make changes to be able to grind out the result and I'm glad the players have a moment to enjoy."

Now Northern Ireland's attentions turn to preparing for the daunting task of the second-round play-off in November against Norway, who beat Albania 14-0 on aggregate in the first round.

"It's a great challenge for this young group, one we won't shy away from, and we said all along, if we want to get to a Euros we have to beat the best teams.

"The prep has already started, it started before this window, with such a short turnaround, we had to make sure we're ready to go," she added.

"We'll enjoy tonight, and the rest of the week and we get going next week."