Isaac Value made the distinction at each ends of the pitch as 10-man Northern Eire clung on for a 1-0 pleasant win over Iceland of their ultimate match earlier than the World Cup qualifying marketing campaign.
Value lit up a colorless first half to place Northern Eire forward, however then needed to head off his personal line because it become a defensive scrap after Brodie Spencer was despatched off for denying a goalscoring alternative when Hakon Haraldsson went over beneath a slight contact simply earlier than the hour.
Michael O’Neill would have been hoping for a extra simple evening as he appears forward to the autumn, however will take encouragement from the way in which his younger facet handled adversity to maintain a clear sheet.
Earlier than kick-off there was a presentation for the lately retired Steven Davis and Jonny Evans, two members of the Euro 2016 squad who every earned greater than 100 caps for Northern Eire.
However there was nothing to recognise Peter McParland, regardless of this sport happening solely two days after his funeral. McParland, who scored 5 targets for Northern Eire on the 1958 World Cup, died final month aged 91.
O’Neill made 5 adjustments to the facet that began Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Copenhagen in Denmark, handing a long-awaited debut to Ronan Hale following his change from the Republic of Eire.
He noticed little of the ball in a tepid begin to the match as neither facet seemed able to creating something.
However within the thirty sixth minute Northern Eire took the lead out of nowhere and Value, who on Monday talked about how he has better confidence following his transfer to West Brom in January, was the person to ship his ninth worldwide purpose.
George Saville beat Arnor Ingvi Traustason to the ball, caught by a heavy problem as he did so, and referee Morten Krogh performed benefit. The ball ran to Value, who took a few touches earlier than bending a shot into the underside nook of the online.
George Saville through the win towards Iceland
Northern Eire had lastly woken up, and in first-half stoppage time Hale was inches away from a debut purpose, cracking a shot off the crossbar after Trai Hume flicked on Justin Devenny’s cross.
Ethan Galbraith changed Paul Smyth on the break and was a whisker large of a primary worldwide purpose within the 56th minute with a flicked header from Shea Charles’ free-kick.
Then Hale burst into the field and acquired past the despairing dive of Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, however his low cross was past Value.
The temper modified fully within the 57th minute. Spencer acquired right into a foot race with Haraldsson, and the Iceland skipper went down theatrically beneath the slightest of touches. Krogh instantly produced a crimson card with Spencer the final man.
Iceland turned up the stress as Northern Eire have been compelled to defend their field and temperatures have been raised.
Goalscorer Value become a defensive hero within the 67th minute, clearing Andri Gudjohnsen’s header off the road, earlier than Kristian Hlynsson despatched likelihood narrowly large.
In stoppage time, goalkeeper Pierce Charles stored out a point-blank header from Isak Johannesson and Northern Eire held on.
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