Northern Eire drew 1-1 with a stable Switzerland group in a global problem match in Belfast tonight.
One other Isaac Worth marvel strike gave Northern Eire the lead earlier than the Swiss hit again. Each targets have been scored within the first half.
At 21 years and 176 days the attacking midfielder turned the second youngest participant to succeed in seven targets at senior degree for Northern Eire. The youngest is Norman Whiteside, who was simply 19 years and 359 days when he recorded his seventh aim in a 2-0 World Cup qualifier win in Belfast in Might 1985.
Michael O’Neill’s facet went toe to toe with a group 51 locations above them within the FIFA world rankings. They created the higher probabilities within the recreation and competed properly all through against Murat Yakin’s group.
Northern Eire began brightly in entrance of 17,862 followers on the Nationwide Soccer Stadium at Windsor Park.
Paul Smyth threatened down the correct. He fired in a low cross-come-shot which was comfortably gathered by Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel.
Within the 16th minute Northern Eire took the lead because of a surprising free-kick from Worth. The hard-running Lee Bonis, making his first begin for the senior males’s group, was hauled down on the sting of the realm. George Saville rolled the ensuing free-kick to Worth and from an angle he drilled the ball previous Kobel into the nook of the web. It was a magnificence.
On 25 minutes Worth performed an outstanding defence-splitting go to Bonis. He raced in the direction of aim however was unable to get a shot away as Swiss defender Cedric Zesiger and the keeper closed him down.
Switzerland, who’re ranked 20th on this planet, equalised 4 minutes later. Ricardo Rodriguez swung in a nook. The unmarked Vincent Sierro rose highest and planted a powerful header previous Pierce Charles into the web.
Trai Hume made a few vital interventions because the Swiss assault intermittently stirred into life.
Within the 43rd minute Bonis was teed up by Shea Charles, nevertheless his snapshot drifted extensive of the submit.
Simply after the interval Ethan Galbraith was pulled down by Rodriguez out extensive. Shea Charles whipped within the free-kick throughout the face of aim. Worth related with the ball however it squirmed onto the roof of the web.
Brodie Spencer produced a superb block to thwart Isaac Schmidt as he ready to let fly.
Galbraith fantastically managed a Swiss clearance on his chest inside the realm and his volley from 12 yards went simply previous the submit.
On 55 minutes O’Neill made a double substitution. Jamie Donley got here on for his senior debut, whereas Dale Taylor additionally entered the fray from the bench.
Galbraith was available to clear the ball because the guests threatened.
On 74 minutes Terry Devlin made his senior worldwide bow and a minute later substitute Justin Devenny whipped in a nook which was met by Donley and his glancing header was pushed away by Kobel.
Pierce Charles obtained down properly to maintain out a header from Swiss substitute Andi Zeqiri as the sport ebbed and flowed. Minutes later Zeqiri obtained in behind the Northern Eire defence however simply failed to attach with a protracted ball excessive.
Each groups huffed and puffed after that, nevertheless no additional clearcut probabilities have been created.
Subsequent up for Northern Eire is a visit to Stockholm on Tuesday (25 March) the place they may tackle Sweden in one other pleasant on the Strawberry Area.
Northern Eire: Pierce Charles, Trai Hume, Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown, Paddy McNair (captain), George Saville, Paul Smyth, Shea Charles, Lee Bonis, Ethan Galbraith, Isaac Worth.
Substitutes: (used) Jamie Donley, Dale Taylor, Justin Devenny, Terry Devlin; (unused) Conor Hazard, Luke Southwood, Ruairi McConville, Aaron Donnelly, Callum Marshall, Brad Lyons, Jordan Thompson, Ronan Hale, Ross McCausland, Kofi Balmer.
Switzerland: Gregor Kobel, Isaac Schmidt, Stefan Gartenmann, Ricardo Rodriguez, Cedric Zesiger, Denis Zakaria, Vincent Sierro, Michel Aebischer, Breel Embolo (captain), Dan Ndoye, Ruben Vargas.
Substitutes: (used) Andi Zeqiri, Joel Monteiro, Fabian Rieder, Alvyn Sanches, Lucas Blondel, Djibril Sow; (unused) Yvon Mvogo (GK), Pascal Loretz (GK), Albian Hajdari, Miro Muheim, Aurele Amenda, Eray Comert.
