Northern Ireland v Cyprus (12/06/2020)

NORTHERN IRELAND NARROWLY DEFEATED BY GREECE WORDS: NIGEL T ILSON

Northern Ireland’s first game in edition three of the UEFA Nations League saw them suffer a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Greece. Gus Poyet’s team grabbed all three points in the League C Group 2 encounter in Belfast on 2 June thanks to a goal from captain Tasos Bakasetas. Greece largely bossed the game for 60 minutes before the introduction of experienced campaigners Kyle Lafferty and Niall McGinn gave Northern Ireland fresh impetus. But Baraclough’s boys could not break down a resolute Greek defence in the final half-hour. The first clearcut chance saw Gavin Whyte test Greece keeper Odisseas Vlachodimos with a low drive. Greece took the lead in the 36th minute. Dimitris Limnios evaded Paddy Lane and raced forward before feeding Bakasetas and he scored with a powerful low drive into the bottom corner. The introduction of Lafferty and McGinn just after the hour mark brought a massive cheer from the home crowd. And it lifted the whole team. A Lafferty knock-down was f licked on by George Saville to McGinn. The winger let f ly, however

his effort was straight at the Greek keeper. Minutes later Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis drove a shot over the bar. In the 84th minute Lafferty came within inches of grabbing an equaliser. He stepped up to take a free-kick after Dion Charles was brought down outside the area. The striker’s effort whizzed just past the upright . Northern Ireland: Bailey Peacock-Farrell , Conor Bradley, Paddy Lane, Daniel Ballard, Jonny Evans, Paddy McNair, George Saville, Steven Davis (captain) , Shayne Lavery, Alistair McCann, Gavin Whyte. Substitutes: (used) Kyle Lafferty, Niall McGinn, Dion Charles, Shea Charles, Trai Hume; (not used) Luke Southwood, Trevor Carson, Trai Hume, Alfie McCalmont , Conor McMenamin, Liam Donnelly, Shea Charles, Charlie McCann, Ciaron Brown. Greece: Odisseas Vlachodimos, Lazaros Rota, Kostas Tsimikas, Konstantinos Mavroponas, Pantelis Hatzidiakos, Andreas Bouchalakis, Manolis Siopis, Tasos Bakasetas (captain) , Dimitris Limnios, Giorgios Giakoumakis, Petros Mantalos. Substitutes: Alexandros Paschalakis (GK) , Georgios Athanasiadis (GK) , George Baldock, Georgios Tzavellas, Dimitrios Kourbelis, Anastasios Chatzigiovanis, Sotirios Alexandropoulos, Anastasios Douvikas, Christos Tzolis, Ionnais Papanikolaou, Evangelos Pavlidis, Dimitrios Giannoulis.

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46 08 02 02 14

54 04 02 01 15

POSSESSION % SHOTS SHOTS ON TARGET CORNERS FOULS

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE LEAGUE C GROUP 2 02-06-2022 NATIONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM AT WINDSOR PARK

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