Northern Ireland’s World Cup dream shattered by play-off defeat to Italy

By Ian Parker, Press Association, Bergamo

Northern Ireland’s World Cup dreams were ended by Italy as Michael O’Neill’s young side fell to a 2-0 qualifying play-off semi-final defeat in Bergamo.

Northern Ireland battled superbly against an Italy side under immense pressure to deliver qualification after two consecutive failures to reach a tournament they have won four times, but were undone by second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.

Having reached half-time with the match still goalless, Northern Ireland successfully ramped up the tension inside the Stadio di Bergamo, but it was released in the 56th minute when Tonali capitalised on a poor clearance from Isaac Price to thrash home.

Kean, a constant threat throughout the night, then settled it 10 minutes from time as his left-footed strike went in off the post.

As well as Northern Ireland defended, they carved out few chances of their own to score, missing the creativity of Conor Bradley and the aerial threat of Dan Ballard as injuries took their toll.

Those absentees had seen O’Neill – who has juggled preparations for this game with his job as Blackburn boss – name a side with an average age of just 22.5, Northern Ireland’s second youngest post-war starting XI, with the 30-year-old Paddy McNair the only player over the age of 24.