Lafferty triggers late goal rush after Irish toil on opening night
For long periods last night, the Northern Ireland supporters who had come to Windsor Park hoping that the official opening of the redeveloped stadium would trigger a landslide of goals looked like leaving disappointed.
Michael O’Neill’s side certainly threw plenty at San Marino but had been frustrated through a combination of errant finishing and Aldo Simoncini’s heroics in goal. Yet San Marino’s hopes of being spared a battering once Mirko Palazzi had been sent off in the 49th minute for a second bookable offence were dashed in the closing stages as Northern Ireland scored three times to make the scoreline more closely reflect their dominance.
Substitute Kyle Lafferty scored twice either side of Jamie Ward’s goal after O’Neill team had taken the lead through Steven Davis’s 26th-minute penalty.
O’Neill had opted to begin with the Norwich City striker on the substitutes’ bench, instead favouring Josh Magennis up front with Ward in behind. “I was disappointed not to play, but I understand Michael’s decision,” Lafferty, who scored seven goals in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, said. “I haven’t been playing regular club football. I am not fit, and giving me the last 23 minutes was the right call. I was happy to get on the pitch and score two goals.”
San Marino may be one the whipping boys of international football but these tests can stretch the patience if an early goal is not forthcoming so O’Neill was relieved to see Davis score from the spot. Magennis had been bundled to the ground by Davide Simoncini as he tried to get on the end of Shane Ferguson’s cross. Aldo Simoncini got a hand to Davis’s penalty but not enough of one to keep the ball out.
Ferguson was bursting with energy down Northern Ireland’s left flank, effectively operating as an auxiliary winger and had dispatched a cross in the 15th minute that was screaming to be met with a thumping header. Davis got his timings wrong, though, and knew he had missed an opportunity, slamming his hand to the ground in frustration.
For the most part, Northern Ireland were camped in San Marino’s half, eight men committed forward as they searched for a second goal. The visitors’ task, then, was difficult enough with 11 men. When left-back Mirko Palazzi was sent off for collecting a brainless second booking shortly after the interval, it became even harder. Palazzi, who had been booked in the first half for a poor challenge on Niall McGinn, pulled back Michael McGovern’s arm as the Northern Ireland goalkeeper attempted to throw the ball out to Stuart Dallas.
Referee Istvan Kovacs brandished a yellow card, Palazzi tried to walk off and was called back to be shown red.
San Marino seemed at risk of losing their heads at that point. Marco Berardi was booked for dissent, then Matteo Vitaioli for a foul. Northern Ireland scented blood but a second goal was elusive. McGinn’s shot was palmed out but Dallas fired the rebound over on the volley, Davis burst through once again but put his shot went over the crossbar, Ward sent an attempted lob over and McGinn was denied again.
It was pretty much shooting practice from then on. Magennis, Ward and Washington twice were thwarted by Simoncini, McGinn hit wide from a great position and then Davis was denied. Davis, though, was instrumental in the second goal. Winning the ball back, he evaded a couple of men before playing in Ferguson, who crossed from for Lafferty to steer in a volley. A third arrived when Lafferty flicked on Ferguson’s cross and Ward lashed home.