CRUSHED

Tears as poison pen in Belfast proves fatal to World Cup bid

George Saville, a replacement for the suspended Corry Evans, also showed some nice touches as the visitors started on the front foot.

In a breathless opening five minutes, Brunt forced a full length save from Yann Sommer, while Stuart Dallas fized over from Norwood’s resulting corner.

Brunt had another shot saved by Sommer on 16 minutes, while Saville saw a snap shot from 22 yards bounce wide.

At the other end, the wasteful Haris Seferovic spurned a golden opportunity when he flashed a close range header from a Shaqiri cross wide of target.

The Benfica striker also volleyed into the sidenetting while Gareth Mcauley was forced into a scrambled clearance from a Blerim Dzemalli cross.

With the Swiss looking threatening on the break, Norwich City goalkeeper Michael Mcgovern parried Shaqiri’s low effort on 25 minutes and then blocked Zuber’s shot with his knees soon after.

Hoffenheim winger Zuber also curled horribly wide when well placed inside the area on the half hour mark as the opening period ended scoreless.

As the rain continued to pour, the Swiss were half a yard away from taking the lead when Ricardo Rodriguez’s left foot drive whistled past the far post.

Saville then sent Ward racing down the right wing and the Forest forward picked out Washington but his header drifted a yard wide with Sommer rooted to the spot.

Saville was gifted a sight of goal on the hour after clever play from Washington, but his shot was smothered by Sommer after he got the ball caught under his feet.

O’neill added Josh Magennis to the fray and handed tricky Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones a debut on 75 minutes as he chased the goal that would level the tie.

Seferovic blasted over with the goal at his mercy, before lively substitute Breel Embolo forced a blocked save from Mcgovern as the Swiss threatened a winner.

Time was running out for the visitors, but in the first minute of added time they almost forced extra-time.

Brunt’s cross was met by the towering Evans, but his downward header was hacked off the line by Rodriguez.

The same Ricardo Rodriguez who scored that disputed winner in Belfast.

Football can be a cruel game.