World Cup 2018 Qualifying play-off, first leg: Northern Ireland 0 Switzerland 1
THE Court of Arbitration in Sport has its headquarters in Switzerland. So has Fifa. Neither of those bodies will help Northern Ireland despite the dubious nature of decisions that cost them dearly in this defeat. What price justice?
In truth, you couldn’t call the Swiss victory ‘rough justice’ as they were the dominant side by some distance, but some of the officials’ calls that contributed to it were certainly questionable.
The shocking penalty that led to the only goal of the game from Ricardo Rodriguez was the key moment, but the hosts might even have had an extra man for most of the match as Swiss centre half Fabian Schar was only booked for an awful lunge that ended a fifth minute breakaway by Stuart Dallas.
Northern Ireland always knew that winning this play-off was likely to be an uphill task and that they’d be heading into Alpine territory but this is close to the proverbial ‘mountain to climb’ now.
Corry Evans was doubly hard done by, harshly penalised for the spot kick from which Switzerland scored, then booked for his protests, ruling him out of the second leg as it’s his second caution in an 11-match campaign. Ridiculous on both counts.
When even the opposition don’t really appeal for a spot-kick you know it’s a decision that should be overturned on appeal – but that doesn’t happen in football.
The better side doesn’t always win either, but that was indisputably the case in this first leg, it has to be admitted.
Northern Ireland put in buckets of effort, as ever, but there was little craft or creativity, with the Swiss almost owning the ball and using it very well.
All in all, it was a disappointing display in which home skipper Steven Davis collected his 100th cap, his 50th as captain.
The Ulster boys (and girls) were making all the noise, the Green and White Army in full voice, probably in more meanings than one. The home support rarely eased up on the decibel levels, apart from the stunned silence that followed the award of the spot-kick, and this tie isn’t all over bar the shouting – but it’s not far from it.
Northern Ireland must now win in Basel on Sunday evening, something that no side, not even European champions Portugal, could manage during the Group B campaign.
Manager Michael O’Neill will have to more adventurous in his approach at the weekend. Last night he limited his changes to one, albeit up front, with the in-form Kyle Lafferty coming in for Conor Washington, as expected.
The Swiss made three alterations from their costly 2-0 defeat in Portugal which denied them automatic passage to Russia despite nine consecutive wins before that.
Injury cost centre back Johan Djourou his place, Basel’s Manuel Akanji coming in, while Denis Zakaria and Steven Zuber, both of whom came on in Lisbon, earned starts instead of Remo Freuler and the out-of-form Admir Mehmedi.
The other Swiss centre half, Schar, had to resort to an agricultural challenge, scything down the counter-attacking Dallas to earn an early booking, but the visitors quickly showed they were much more classy than that.
With their full-backs so far advanced, the Swiss soon set-up more like a 2-4-3-1, or even a 2-1-6-1 at times.
Zakaria was a powerful presence in midfield early on, and his central colleague Granit Xhaka advanced well, although his shooting accuracy let him down, twice sweeping left-footed shots over from the edge of the penalty area.
The first of those chances came to him after Jonny Evans blocked a close range shot by Blerim Dzemaili following a knockdown, the first of many important defensive interventions by the West Brom skipper.
Goalkeeper Michael McGovern, in his new bright orange jersey, was also beacon-like in attracting the ball, which was just as well.
Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri, operating on the right, magically delivering teasing centres with his wand of a left foot.
The squat Stoke star also teed up his skipper Stephan Lichtsteiner for a wicked low cross, which Gareth McAuley did very well to cut out.
The next minute Shaqiri whipped in a beauty which centre-forward Haris Seferovic met with the outside of his right boot, but McGovern saved smartly.
The pressure appeared to be mounting inexorably, but it then eased for a time, with the hosts even able to win some free kicks and corners, and at least pose some problems to the Swiss on the counter-attack.
On the stroke of half-time, a stroke of luck for NI – Xhaka chipped cleverly, Blerim Dzemaili nodded the ball on, but Swiss skipper Lichtsteiner slipped as he ran into the box. The little magician Shaqiri almost curled in a trademark special inside the opening 30 seconds of the second half but his effort was inches off-target.
Seferovic was then inches away from connecting with a zipped centre across the face of goal by Dzemaili.
The goal, though, when it eventually came, was still a surprise.
Swiss frustration appearing to be bubbling over, with Schar slashing a wild shot well over from long range, but in the same 56th minute they got a helping hand.
Zuber lofted a cross which Shaqiri leapt to volley and although the younger Evans turned his back as the ball was belted at him from close range, the Romanian referee amazingly awarded a penalty.
Left-back Ricardo Rodriguez shimmied and then sent it low to McGovern’s left and into the net.
The Swiss could have doubled their lead when Zuber slipped the ball through to Shaqiri but he seemed surprised to get the chance and shot weakly towards the near post, which was easily saved.
The hosts’ best chance came, unsurprisingly, from a set piece, but Josh Magennis headed awkwardly wide from Brunt’s free kick. A minute later Brunt took another and shot for goal, but it was just high and wide.
While Swiss boss Vladimir Petkovic made a defensive change in the 77th minute, sending on midfielder Breel Embolo for centre-forward Seferovic, O’Neill freshened up his attack, with Conor Washington replacing Lafferty as his last sub.
He and fellow replacement George Saville were lively late on, but despite going to a 4-3-3 system with Magennis pushing up, Northern Ireland could not force a leveller, leaving them staring at a World Cup exit unless they stun the Swiss this Sunday.
Northern Ireland (4-5-1): McGovern; C McLaughlin, McAuley, J Evans, Brunt; Magennis, Norwood, C Evans (Saville, 65), Davis (capt.), Dallas (Ward, 51); K Lafferty (Washington, 77).
Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Zakaria, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Dzemaili (Frei, 83), Zuber (Mehmedi, 87); Seferovic (Embolo, 77).
Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (Romania).
Attendance: 18,269
NORTHERN IRELAND PLAYER RATINGS
Michael McGovern: Saved well from Seferovic and was alert to stop a Shaqiri effort, but couldn’t get close to the well-taken penalty from Rodriguez. Kicking a concern at times. 7
Conor McLaughlin: Outmuscled by Zuber early on but as neat and tidy as ever, always alert to snuff out danger. 6.5
Gareth McAuley: Impressively cut out a low Lichtsteiner cross and headed another centre clear, but allowed Seferovic to run off him too often. 6
Jonny Evans: Positioned perfectly to block a Dzemaili shot and made more vital defensive contributions throughout the evening. One poor lay-off in opposition box led to a counter-attack but performed very well. 7.5
Chris Brunt: Didn’t get close enough to Shaqiri, although was understandably wary of his skill. Quality dead ball deliveries but Swiss defended them well. 6.5
Ollie Norwood: Always on the move around the defensive ‘D’ in his protective role but might have done more to close down Xhaka. 6
Corry Evans: Delivered a decent early cross but much more concerned with trying to close down Xhaka. Lack of pace a concern in covering back. Harshly penalised for penalty and booking. 6
Steven Davis: The captain was as calm and composed in possession, as ever, although didn’t see much of it. Tried to prompt attacks but to little avail. 6.5
Josh Magennis: Began brightly but apart from winning a header didn’t get into the game before the break. Might have done better with chance from Brunt’s free-kick. 6
Stuart Dallas: An early run was only ended by a Schar foul and booking. Took some punishment but troubled Schar again. Had to go off injured. 6.5
Kyle Lafferty: Poked a weak shot from a clever Davis pass and saw a tricky volley deflected over but was starved of supply. Good defensive header from a corner. Kepty at it before giving way to Washington. 6
Substitutes
Jamie Ward: Made an immediate impact, closing down Shaqiri and Xhaka to win possession in quick succession but perhaps being fortunate to escape booking for a high foot on Lichtsteiner. 6.5
George Saville: Seemed to throw himself in an attempt to win a penalty but played in a composed manner in central midfield otherwise. 6.5
Conor Washington: Looked lively on the left central side of the attack for the final 15 minutes but never really got a sight of goal. 6
