Northern Ireland v Cyprus (12/06/2020)

NORTHERN IRELAND AND CYPRUS IN LARNACA STALEMATE WORDS: NIGEL T ILSON

Northern Ireland drew 0-0 with Cyprus in their second League C Group 2 encounter.

McMenamin had a couple of decent efforts, while fellow substitute Shayne Lavery screwed a shot wide. Pavlos Korrea missed a good opportunity for the home side before Northern Ireland missed a glorious chance. McMenamin fizzed a ball into the box and substitute Ali McCann pushed it wide from two yards out . And McMenamin fired a shot just wide from an angle as the game petered out . Northern Ireland: Bailey Peacock-Farrell , Paddy Lane, Ciaron Brown, Jonny Evans, Paddy McNair, George Saville, Niall McGinn, Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty, Shea Charles, Gavin Whyte. Substitutes: (used) Liam Donnelly, Brodie Spencer, Conor McMenamin, Ali McCann, Shayne Lavery; (unused) Luke Southwood, Trevor Carson, Conor Bradley, Dion Charles, Caolan Boyd-Munce, Alfie McCalmont , Charlie McCann. Cyprus: Neofytos Michael , Nicholas Ioannou, Fanos Katelaris, Alexander Gogic, Pavlos Korrea, Ioannis Pittas, Grigoris Kastanos, Kostakis Artymatas, Dimitris Christofi (captain) , Pieros Sotiriou, Loizos Loizou. Substitutes: Ioakeim Toumpas (GK) , Andreas Christodoulou (GK) , Michalis Ioannou, Matija Spoljaric, Minas Antoniou, Chambos Kyriakou,

They had plenty of possession during the stalemate at the AEK Arena in Larnaca last Sunday but lacked a cutting edge on a balmy night . In front of 2,500 fans, including 600 Northern Ireland supporters, they produced some tidy football at times but rarely tested the home keeper. George Saville, Shea Charles and Gavin Whyte all had half-chances in the opening 45 minutes, while Bailey Peacock-Farrell smothered a snapshot by Cypriot winger Loizos Loizou. Cyprus defender Fanos Katelaris produced a magnificent effort as half-time approached. His blaster from 35 yards cannoned off the crossbar. Northern Ireland showed more urgency after the break. Whyte’s shot was well saved by Cyprus keeper Neofytos Michael and Jonny Evans guided a header just wide. Cyprus midfielder Grigoris Kastanos smashed an effort inches past the upright , while Peacock-Farrell saved well at the feet of substitute Marinos Tzionis. On 63 minutes Conor McMenamin and Brodie Spencer came on to make their senior debuts. Liam Donnelly also entered the fray.

Andreas Avraam, Nikolas Panayiotou, Andronikos Kakoulli, Fotis Papoulis, Konstantinos Laifis, Marinos Tzionis.

42 10 02 02 04

58 13 02 04 11

POSSESSION % SHOTS SHOTS ON TARGET CORNERS FOULS

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE LEAGUE C GROUP 2

05-06-2022 AEK ARENA, LARNACA, CYPRUS

54

NIR V CYP