Superb NI shut out Euro champions

Northern Ireland produced a superb display at Windsor Park to force European champions Italy into the World Cup play-offs.

The second half was particularly good as they arguably created the best chances of the game, having soaked up plenty of Italian pressure in the opening 45 minutes.

However, they will rue late missed opportunities for Stuart Dallas and especially Conor Washington.

Had either gone in, we could have been talking about another famous Northern Ireland scalp – one on a par with the famous victories in Belfast against England and Spain.

Northern Ireland made three changes from the starting line-up that beat Lithuania 1-0 on Friday night.

Tom Flanagan came in for the injured Paddy McNair at the back, while Jamal Lewis and Gavin Whyte replaced Shane Ferguson and Conor Washington.

It was a lively start to proceedings with the visitors having the opening chance of the game in the 8th minute.

Lorenzo Insigne’s inch-perfect diagonal ball put Domenico Berardi in on the right. But the Sassuolo forward’s effort was tipped away from danger by the alert Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Northern Ireland keeper was called into action either.

After Tom Flanagan had headed over from a Steven Davis free-kick, Italy began to push the home side further and further back towards their own goal.

However, the best they had to show for that territorial dominance were shots from Insigne and Federico Chiesa that were both comfortable for Peacock-Farrell.

However, the keeper did have to be at his best to deny Chiesa eight minutes before half-time.

The Juventus man – one of the stars of the Euros – cut in from the left and Peacock-Farrell stuck out a long left leg to get something on Chiesa’s poked effort before the assistant’s flag went up for offside.

Shortly before that, the keeper was at his best to deny Insigne.

Flanagan’s pass was intercepted and that led to the Napoli man Craig Cathcart, only to be denied the Northern Ireland’s number one.

There were chances at both ends early in the second period.

After Insigne had pulled his effort wide from 16 yards, Northern Ireland could – and possibly should – have taken the lead on 49 minutes.

Stuart Dallas’ ball found Lewis at the back post, he cut it back to George Saville, but the Millwall midfielder could only shoot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma who was able to beat it away.

Stuart Dallas was inches away from blowing the roof off Windsor Park on 82 minutes when he cracked a first-time low drive just wide of the left hand post.

Northern Ireland should have gone ahead as the match entered time added on.

Sub Conor Washington nicked the ball past Donnarumma, who had come charging out of his goal. However, after taking his time and moving into the box, he could only scuff his shot and it was cleared off the line by Italy captain Leonardo Bonucci

But, it mattered little as Northern Ireland claimed a fantastic – and fully deserved point.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Peacock-Farrell, Flanagan, J Evans, Cathcart, Dallas, Lewis, McCann, Davis, Saville (C Evans 71), Magennis, Whyte (Washington 71)

Subs not used: Hazard, Southwood, Bradley, McGinn, Taylor, Ferguson, Jones, Galbraith, Brown

ITALY: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Emerson (Scamacca 80), Bonucci, Acerbi, Jorginho (Locatelli 68), Barella (Belotti 64), Tonali (Cristante H-T), Chiesa, Insigne (Bernardeschi 68), Berardi

Subs not used: Meret, Cragno, Zappacosta, Ferrari, Pessina, Raspadori, Mancini

REFEREE: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)

• northern ireland
• Italy
• World Cup
• Football