EURO 2024: Toothless Northern Ireland fall to another disappointing defeat

A goal two minutes from the end of normal time condemned Northern Ireland to another 1-0 defeat in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

It was a comedy of errors that led to it, with two of the side’s most experienced defenders unable to make their tackles. What this result does is effectively end Northern Ireland’s albeit extremely slim hopes of qualification for next year’s tournament in Germany.

Northern Ireland now haven’t scored in their last three games in this qualifying campaign and haven’t picked up a point in those matches either.

It’s also the second home match in succession where they’ve arguably had more of the ball, but failed to create enough opportunities to get something positive from the game.

As much as Michael O’Neill will point to the players he had missing, Northern Ireland should have had enough to take at least a draw from this match.

O’Neill made three changes to the starting line-up from the one that began Friday night’s cruel defeat away to Denmark.

Craig Cathcart returned from injury to take his place in a back three at the expense of Ciaron Brown, Dion Charles was a straight swap for Shayne Lavery up top, while Jordan Thompson replaced the injured Conor Bradley.

Northern Ireland’s first shot in anger came in the seventh minute, when Trai Hume collected a loose ball 20 yards out and tried his luck, but his effort flew wide of the left-hand post.

After Dion Charles had sliced over the bar following some neat build up play from his namesake Shea on the quarter hour, the visitors should have gone in front 30 seconds later.

Confusion in the Northern Ireland defence presented Maxim Samorodov with a golden opportunity eight yards out, but he pulled his shot wide.

Less than four minutes later, it was the home side’s turn to spurn a gilt-edged chance.

Isaac Price's corner from the left was nodded back across goal by Paddy McNair, but Cathcart somehow managed to head over from inside the six-yard box.

Then a minute before the break another good opportunity went abegging for Northern Ireland.

Excellent forward play from Dion Charles saw him stand the ball up to the back post, but George Saville just got underneath it and headed over the bar.

It left a big second half in store and plenty for O’Neill to ponder at the interval.

But it was the visitors who began the second period with more purpose, seemingly not prepared to sit back any more and actually wanting to pin Northern Ireland back.

However, they failed to create anything of note and the more the half wore on, the more the hosts asserted their authority.

Northern Ireland did lose captain Jonny Evans to a shoulder injury shortly after the hour mark. He was replaced by Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin and that saw a formation change, to four at the back.

That seemed to give Northern Ireland a bit more verve as the tie entered its final quarter and further attacking changes saw Dale Taylor and Shayne Lavery introduced for Ali McCann and the ineffective Dion Charles.

But it was McMenamin who came closest to breaking the deadlock 13 minutes from time.

He cut on from the right flank and unleashed a vicious left-footed effort – one that we’ve seen so many times in the Irish League – that Kazakhstan keeper Igor Shatskiy did superbly to tip over the crossbar.

Then came the suckerpunch.

Two minutes from the end of the 90, Kazakhstan sub Abat Aimbetov somehow managed to evade separate sliding tackles from Cathcart and McNair to find himself through on goal. And with just Bailey Peacock-Farrell to beat, the forward made no mistake, slotting the ball home from 10 yards.

While it may be seen as cruel in the context of this particular game, it points to that wider picture of Northern Ireland looking toothless in attack and somewhat susceptible at the other end of the pitch.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, McNair, Evans (McMenamin 63), Cathcart, S Charles, Saville, McCann (Taylor 71), Hume, Thompson (Brown 84), Price, D Charles (Lavery 71)

Subs not used: Hazard (GK), Southwood (GK), Lane, Marshall, Goss, Johnston, Donnelly

Kazakhstan: Shatskiy, Gabyshev (Skvortsov 68), Bystrov, Marochkin, Alip, Vorogovskiy, Beysebekov, Tagybergen (Tapalov 81), Orazov (Astanov 81), Zainutdinov (Kuat 75), Samorodov (Aimbetov 81)

Subs not used: Shaizada (GK), Ustimenko (GK), Malyy, Shvyrev, Kenesson, Dosmagambetov, Yerlanov

Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (Israel)

Attendance: 18,002