Northern Ireland scrap to goalless draw in Prague
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ByEurosport
Updated 04/09/2016 at 21:37 GMT
World Cup qualifying Group C, Generali Arena - Czech Republic 0 Northern Ireland 0
Vladimir Darida of Czech Republic (R) and Stuart Dallas of Northern Ireland
Image credit: AFP
Northern Ireland did well to scrap a valuable goalless draw away to a Czech Republic side likely to be their principal rivals for second place in Group C behind Germany.
From the first whistle, the visitors were under pressure, but Michael McGovern was not called upon to make a single meaningful save in the first half. On the other hand, Northern Ireland looked moderately dangerous on the break, and Paddy McNair came closest to breaking the deadlock, bursting through midfield to shoot low, hard, and too close to Tomas Vaclik.
The Czechs stepped up the intensity in the second half, and on 62 minutes came the game's key moment. Kadelabek, who was excellent throughout, sent a long throw into the Northern Ireland box that Gareth McAuley couldn't quite reach. This allowed the ball to bounce across Filip Novak - but, dead centre, five yards out and unmarked, he lashed a shot wide when such behaviour seemed impossible.
Both sides sought the winner thereafter, the Czechs retaining the ascendancy, but Northern Ireland just about repelled them with Jonny Evans intervening with head, body and foot on the various occasions that they looked poised to concede.
TALKING POINT - MISSING COHESION
Northern Ireland have a settled side in which each member knows his job, but are still unable to find the attacking cohesion that they need. No one is expecting their players to suddenly become world-beaters, but given their desire to play on the break, they should at least be well-drilled in making the right runs and passes when bursting forwards. They have a reasonable opportunity to progress from this group, but need to develop their attacking threat.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JONNY EVANS
The question "Is Jonny Evans rubbish?" is a useful eliminator when seeking discover whether or not it is worth talking to a person about football. Evans is far from perfect, but he reads the game well, anticipates danger, and has proven himself over a number of seasons and against the best players; anyone who fails to recognise this hasn't been paying attention. And tonight, Evans was superb; simply, without him, his team would have lost.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Czech Republic: Vaclik 6, Kadelabek 8, Suchy 6, Michal Kadlec, 6, Novak 5, Skalak 7, Darida 7, Pavelka 6, Krejci 7, Vaclav Kadlec 6, Skoda 6. Subs: Necid 6, Kopic 6, Vydra 6.
Northern Ireland: McGovern 6, McLaughlin 7, McAuley 7, Evans 9, Ferguson 7, McNair 6, Norwood 6, Davis 7, Ward 6, Lafferty 5, Dallas 7. Subs: Hodson 6, Magennis 7, McGinn 6.
KEY MOMENTS
43' - DARIDA TACKLE - Oh my! Czech Republic force another corner down the right, it's cleared, and suddenly it's Davis nashing through the middle from his own penalty box - he's one on one. Just behind him, Dallas is running like billy-o to keep up, and he tries the square ball, but Darida has done brilliantly to get back, and he tackles.
48' - KREJCI CROSS - Skalak runs at the heart of the NI defence and races through Evans, who does more or less nothing to stop him. But Ferguson slides in from the left and then when Krejci looks to centre, McLaughlin slides in from the right, so that when the ball comes across, Skoda can't quite reach it.
61’ - DALLAS CROSS - Fantastic play from Dallas down the left, who nips inside Kaderabek and whips a venomous cross into the box which only just eludes Ward and Magennis. That's easily Northern Ireland's best moment off the half; can they build on it?
73' - DAVIS CHANCE - The Czech defence do not like crosses, and Ward hits one from the right, looking for Dallas at the back post. He's up well too, nodding across for Davis, but the ball won't quite drop.
76' - EVANS BLOCK - Superb from Evans again! Kadlec crosses superbly from the left and Skalak is on the scene as Hodson misses with his tackle. So Skalak draws back his foot to shoot, just eight yards out, but Evans flings himself in it the road to block.
89' - KREJCI SHOT - Czech Republic probe, taking the ball across the face of the box from left to right. Then Darida,who's been good this half, slides a straight ball down the side of McAuley for Krejci, who turns beautifully, conjuring space for a shot ... which he drags wide of the near post.
48' - KREJCI CROSS - Skalak runs at the heart of the NI defence and races through Evans, who does more or less nothing to stop him. But Ferguson slides in from the left and then when Krejci looks to centre, McLaughlin slides in from the right, so that when the ball comes across, Skoda can't quite reach it.
61’ - DALLAS CROSS - Fantastic play from Dallas down the left, who nips inside Kaderabek and whips a venomous cross into the box which only just eludes Ward and Magennis. That's easily Northern Ireland's best moment off the half; can they build on it?
73' - DAVIS CHANCE - The Czech defence do not like crosses, and Ward hits one from the right, looking for Dallas at the back post. He's up well too, nodding across for Davis, but the ball won't quite drop.
76' - EVANS BLOCK - Superb from Evans again! Kadlec crosses superbly from the left and Skalak is on the scene as Hodson misses with his tackle. So Skalak draws back his foot to shoot, just eight yards out, but Evans flings himself in it the road to block.
89' - KREJCI SHOT - Czech Republic probe, taking the ball across the face of the box from left to right. Then Darida,who's been good this half, slides a straight ball down the side of McAuley for Krejci, who turns beautifully, conjuring space for a shot ... which he drags wide of the near post.
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