Italians do job to spoil Davis party
NORTHERN IRELAND FACE STRUGGLE
STEVEN DAVIS’ recordequalling night was ruined by Italy as they ruthlessly exposed Northern Ireland at the back.
Davis will not remember with much fondness the game when he joined Peter Shilton as Britain’s most-capped player with 125 international appearances because of this opening qualifying defeat.
Northern Ireland were let down by their normally reliable defence and manager Ian Baraclough is still searching for his first win inside 90 minutes after nine matches in charge.
Northern Ireland’s attitude was not lacking and they made it a real contest in the second half. But the damage had been done by then through Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile’s first-half goals.
While Italy’s forward line came from Serie A, Northern Ireland’s was from League One.
The Irish knew they faced a tough task to qualify for the World Cup from a group including Italy, Switzerland and Bulgaria and this result will only have reinforced that belief.
Wednesday’s second qualifying game against Bulgaria is now even bigger and the Irish know they need a result to have any chance of being competitive in their group.
Despite playing three at the back, Northern Ireland were vulnerable to balls played over the top and Immobile scuffed his shot when he got in behind Jonny Evans in an early warning to the visitors.
Italy opened the scoring on 14 minutes through an excellent finish by Berardi. Alessandro Florenzi played him in down the right and he cut inside onto his favoured left foot to fire past Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
For all Italy’s dominance of possession, their second in the 38th minute came from a lightning break following a rare Irish attack.
Lorenzo Insigne fed Immobile on the left and the Lazio striker beat Peacock-Farrell at his near post. Northern Ireland’s general play apart from their defending for Italy’s two goals was encouraging and their strike force of Hull duo Josh Magennis and Gavin Whyte worked hard. The Irish had two chances in quick after a mistake goalkeeper Donnarumma.
His poor pass almost let Whyte in and he then made a fine save from Michael Smith. succession by Italian Gianluigi
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma 6; Emerson 6 (Spinazzola 74, 6), Chiellini 6, Bonucci 6, Florenzi 7; Verratti 6, Locatelli 6, Pellegrini 6 (Barella 64, 6); Insigne 7, Immobile 7, Berardi 8 (Chiesa 75, 6). Goals: Berardi 14, Immobile 38.
N IRELAND (3-5-2): Peacock-Farrell 5; Cathcart 6, J Evans 5, McNair 5; Smith 5, C Evans 5 (Saville 46, 6), Davis 6, McCann 6 (Thompson 78, 5), Dallas 6; Whyte 6 (Lavery 64, 5), Magennis 5 (Lafferty 78, 5).