Northern Ireland beaten by Kazakhstan to dent qualification hopes
The hosts came into this contest looking for an immediate response to Friday’s 1-0 defeat against Denmark in Euro 2024 qualifying, after a late Callum Marshall effort was ruled out for an offside infringement.
All in attendance at Windsor Park would have been concerned with the ease with which Maksim Samorodov wriggled into the box before dragging an effort wide of Bailey Peacock-Farrell. After surviving that early scare, the hosts fired off their own warning shot, when Paddy McNair headed a deep corner kick into the path of Craig Cathcart, who could only nod over from close range.
Dion Charles, who carried a threat throughout the first period, carved out a promising opportunity moments before half-time, standing an inviting ball up to the far post where George Saville was lurking, but the Millwall midfielder was unable to keep his header below the crossbar.
And far from becoming more plentiful as stamina began to drain across the park, clear chances dried up after the restart. Instead, desperation began to creep in, as highlighted well by Isaac Price’s ambitious long-range free-kick, which sailed harmlessly into the stand behind Igor Shatskiy’s goal.
Prior to the contest, O’Neill admitted that he was more interested in picking up points than qualification, and in his bid to turn one into three, he introduced Dale Taylor and Shayne Lavery with just under 20 minutes remaining.
However, it was an earlier substitute, Conor McMenamin, who attempted to make the difference, forcing Shatskiy to tip the ball over the ball from a powerful long-distance strike.
Against all pre-match expectations though, it was the visitors who found a dramatic late winner just as the contest was meandering to a goalless conclusion. Seizing the moment with aplomb, Aymbetov embarked on a purposeful run from inside his own half, before calmly guiding a low strike past Peacock-Farrell. The victory moves Kazakhstan into second place, while Northern Ireland are languishing six points adrift in fifth position.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Abat Aymbetov (Kazakhstan)
