World Cup 2018 Qualifying play-off, second leg: Switzerland 0 Northern Ireland 0 (agg 1-0)
EVANS above, this was close, but Northern Ireland are down and out of the World Cup after Ricardo Rodriguez broke their hearts again.
Jonny Evans almost avenged his younger brother Corry, harshly suspended for this second leg, but the man who converted the controversial penalty that ultimately decided this tie saved Switzerland again late on.
This time Rodriguez made an acrobatic goal-line clearance after the elder Evans soared high to thump a header goalwards deep into added time.
That intervention ensured the dream was over, but at least the visitors could sleep well last night, due to a combination of exhaustion and satisfaction with their efforts, never stopping on a heavy, rain-sodden pitch.
The pitchforks were out in Swiss hands, but only to try to reduce lying water after a day of heavy rainfall, although the home crowd’s celebrations were no doubt soaked with a huge flood of relief.
As in the first leg, the Swiss had their chances, but the visitors put in a heroic effort as they sought in vain for the away goal that would have taken this play-off to extra time.
Several of Northern Ireland’s older players may not return for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign but there were signs of promise for the future, notably from full debutant George Saville in midfield and wide attacker Jordan Jones.
Saville was one of four personnel changes made by manager Michael O’Neill, replacing the suspended Corry Evans, with Conor Washington coming in up front for Kyle Lafferty.
However, the boss also sprang surprises, notably 38-year-old Aaron Hughes at right-back instead of Conor McLaughlin, and although Jamie Ward was expected to start, Josh Magennis wasn’t thought to be the player who’d drop out.
Hughes, the 37-year-old Gareth McAuley, and Jonny Evans all defended wonderfully, but it was the lack of goal at the other end that cost NI here, despite all their efforts.
The Swiss, unsurprisingly, were unchanged from their line-out in Belfast, but this was soon shown to be a very different game.
Within three minutes the visitors had exceeded their home performance, at least in terms of getting a shot on target, Chris Brunt bringing a flying save from Yann Sommer.
They might even have tested him a minute earlier, but Ward didn’t get a clear header from skipper Steven Davis’s cross.
The attacking intent from NI was evident, but so were the same problems posed by the Swiss as in the first leg.
Brunt still was allowing Xherdan Shaqiri far too much room and he fizzed over a superb left-footed ball that Haris Seferovic really should have headed on target rather than narrowly wide.
The visiting left-back’s problems soon increased, booked for chopping down Swiss skipper Stephan Lichtsteiner, but Switzerland were also finding space on the opposite flank. Fortunately, Gareth McAuley was well-placed to make two important interceptions.
Northern Ireland were largely playing on the counter-attack, but their more open approach carried risks – a cross-field ball by Davis was seized on by Zuber, but Seferovic shot wide from his pass.
The hosts had two concerning chances in the 25th minute, a Shaqiri shot saved at the near post, then a Seferovic header only coming back out off his colleague Fabian Schar.
The best opening was created by Blerim Dzemaili, sending Steven Zuber in on the left, but his cross-shot was kept out by Michael McGovern’s left foot.
Hughes proved his worth several times early in the second half, but NI produced a superb counter-attack to come close to opening the scoring, through three of the men who hadn’t started the first leg.
The excellent Saville won the ball then struck it superbly cross-field out right to Ward, whose cross was met by Washington, but his header zipped wide.
Washington then pulled a ball back for Saville to shoot but he had to dig it out of the pitch and the ‘keeper wasn’t troubled.
As Northern Ireland pushed Switzerland back, the hosts began to exploit space in behind, but McGovern was alert to collect a header on by Seferovic.
Needing a goal, O’Neill sent on Jordan Jones and Josh Magennis for Ward and Ollie Norwood respectively, changing formation to 4-4-2 with Magennis alongside Washington.
In contrast, Swiss boss Vladimir Petkovic took off his star, Shaqiri, putting in defensive midfielder Remo Freuler.
Late on he removed number nine Seferovic, moments after he swept a shot over from the edge of the penalty area - but his replacement, 20-year-old Breel Embolo, proved to be a greater danger. The Schalke youngster first whipped over a low cross that fellow sub Admir Mehmedi only just failed to connect with. Then Embolo spun and shot, bringing a smart near post stop from McGovern.
With his last throw of the dice O’Neill had also altered the forefront of his attack, going for ‘the big man up front’ approach, with McAuley going to centre-forward as Paddy McNair came on for Washington but played deeper.
However, it was McAuley’s right foot that helped create the golden opportunity at the end. ‘Big G’ clipped a dropping ball out to Brunt, who paused, picked out Evans – but Rodriguez was in the right place to volley the goal-bound header clear.
Rarely has a goalless game been so thrilling, so gripping, but all the drama had the wrong ending as far as Northern Ireland were concerned. A fourth consecutive World Cup for the Swiss rather than a fourth ‘mondial’ for the north.
The damage was done by the dodgy penalty in the first leg, but despite the devastating disappointment the visitors head home with heads held high.
Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Lichtsteiner (capt.), Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Zakaria, Xhaka; Shaqiri (Freuler, 79), Dzemaili (Mehmedi, 60), Zuber; Seferovic (Embolo, 86)
Northern Ireland (4-3-3): McGovern; Hughes, McAuley, J Evans, Brunt; Norwood (Magennis, 74), Saville, Davis (capt.); Ward (Jones, 73), Washington (McNair, 81), Dallas
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
Attendance: 36,000
NORTHERN IRELAND PLAYER RATINGS
Michael McGovern: Sliced one early kick worryingly but used his left foot well to save a Zuber shot and denied Embolo late on. 7
Aaron Hughes: A surprise selection but showed his defensive capabilities several times in second half, with a block, a tackle, and a cut-out in quick succession. 7.5
Gareth McAuley: ‘Big G’ rolled back the years, barely putting a foot or his head wrong, apart from one poor forward pass. Cut out dangerous balls in and twice denied Zuber good chances. 8.5
Jonny Evans: Another assured performance, so clever and confident on the ball even in dangerous positions. Evans (above) almost the visitors’ hero at the end with header cleared off the goal-line. 8.5
Chris Brunt: Fired in a great early shot but got booked for clattering Lichtsteiner and was troubled by him and Shaqiri, understandably. Sent over superb cross at the end…6.5
Ollie Norwood: Pushed forward at first and then pressed the Swiss midfield back. Exhibited some good passing before being taken off as the shape changed seeking a goal. 7
George Saville: Shaky first touch but settled terrifically. Got on the ball so much and used it well, and battled to win possession too. Linked play impressively, including a great cross-field ball – just needs to sharpen up his shooting. 8.5
Steven Davis: A cross-field pass by the skipper that was intercepted will be remembered for its rarity. Davis (centre) has such great feet and shows excellent composure on the ball, but also works hard to win back possession. 7.5
Jamie Ward: His energy and enthusiasm set the right tone from the outset, up for an early headed chance. Tigerish in closing down opponents and put in great cross for Washington before being taken off. 7.5
Conor Washington: A threat with his runs off the back of defenders and also a physical problem for them. Couldn’t quite direct headed opportunity on target and was replaced after a great shift. 7
Stuart Dallas: Another performance full of running, good on and off the ball. Caused Switzerland bother on the left flank, then went to the right in a 4-4-2. 7
Substitutes
Jordan Jones: Showed pace and confidence on the left but couldn’t get the better of Lichtsteiner. 6.5
Josh Magennis: Went into a front two but his touch let him down on a couple of occasions. 5.5
Paddy McNair: On for the last 15 minutes of play, won ball deep in injury-time but it was wasted. 6
Compiled by Kenny Archer
