The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Boyce the hero for Northern Ireland – but it’s agony for Republic
Hearts striker Liam Boyce fired Northern Ireland into a Euro 2020 qualifying play-off final against Slovakia as they beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in a penalty shoot-out in Sarajevo last night.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved from Haris Hajradonovic and Edin Visca hit the crossbar before Northern Ireland emerged from their first ever penalty shoot-out 4-3 winners thanks to Boyce’s strike.
It means Northern Ireland will have a chance to book a ticket to the rearranged Euro 2020 finals next month in Belfast when they face Slovakia, who saw off the Republic of Ireland in a shoot-out in Bratislava.
It was a dramatic finish to a tense night in Sarajevo, where Rade Krunic fired the Bosnians into an early lead before Niall McGinn levelled for the visitors eight minutes into the second half.
Bosnia were roared on by around 1,500 fans allowed into the Stadion Grbavica but vic tor y would go to the visitors, a first win in charge for Ian Baraclough coming at the perfect moment and a glorious way for Steven Davis to mark his recordbreaking 120th cap.
Slovakia booked their spot in the final after Alan Browne and Matt Doherty suffered penalty shoot-out misery as the Republic of Ireland bowed out of the play-offs in agonising fashion in Bratislava.
Former Dunfermline boss Stephen Kenny’s men created the better chances in the game which ended 0- 0 after extra-time, during which substitute Browne hit the post, but went down 4-2 on penalties.
As a result, Slovakia will meet Northern Ireland in next month’s final but the Republic will not get to play in a finals tournament for which Dublin is one of the host cities.
Browne and Conor Hourihane both might have won it, although it took a fine goalline clearance by skipper Shane Duffy from substitute Lukas Haraslin to ensure the tie went all the way.
Ultimately, it came to a test of nerve and character, of which the Republic have long held abundant supplies, but it was not to be their night as Marek Hamsik, Patrik Hrosovsky, Haraslin and Jan Gregus scored from the spot, a feat only Hourihane and Robbie Brady could match.