Northern Ireland lose Nations League opener to Bosnia-Herzegovina

Northern Ireland were beaten 2-1 by a clinical Bosnia-Herzegovina as they began their UEFA Nations League campaign with defeat at Windsor Park.

Michael O'Neill's side dominated virtually every aspect of the game, but Duljevic and Saric scored for the visitors, before Will Grigg grabbed a late consolation goal.

Inside the first minute, the home side were denied strong shouts for penalty when George Saville was tripped tripped inside box after a Bosnian error.

It set the early tone as Northern Ireland bossed possession and controlled the pace, but couldn't convert this into decisive opportunities.

Bosnia-Herzegovina were happy to operate on the counter, and with half an hour played, goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell did well to parry a close-range effort by Edin Dzeko.

6 minutes later the Roma forward collected a Miralem Pjanic pass and then crossed low from the left to find an unmarked Haris Duljevic, who finished from close range to give the visitors a lead against the run of play.

Early in the second half, Stuart Dallas went close with a half-volley from 6 yards out which forced keeper Ibrahim Sehic into a flailing one-handed save.

Northern Ireland continued to press for an equaliser and with 54 on the clock, Ollie Norwood's free kick caused chaos in the box which resulted in Saville's powerful shot being parried out by Sehic.

However, the visitors moved 2-0 ahead in the 64th when Craig Cathcart's header back towards his own goal was too soft, allowing Elvis Saric to steal in ahead of Peacock-Farrell and tap into an empty net.

It prompted manager Michael O'Neill to make a double substitution in the 70th minute with Will Grigg on for Kyle Lafferty, and Liam Boyce replacing Conor McLaughlin.

Northern Ireland began to swarm the Bosnian box and Grigg finished from close range in added time with a goal that set up a tense few minutes at the death - but it proved nothing more than consolation.