IMMOBILISED
Ciro strike spoils skipper Davis’s record-equalling night
STEVEN DAVIS’S recordequalling night was ruined by Italy, who ruthlessly exposed Northern Ireland’s defence.
Defeat in this opening qualifier means Davis (right) will not look back with much fondness on his 125th appearance for his country, despite joining Peter Shilton as Britain’s most-capped player.
Northern Ireland were let down by their normally-reliable backline and manager Ian Baraclough is still searching for his first win inside 90 minutes after nine games in charge.
He will be disappointed by the nature of Italy’s goals because his defence could have done better on each occasion.
Northern Ireland were not lacking in attitude and 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.
The gulf in class between the sides was evident. While Italy’s forward line came from Serie A, Northern Ireland’s was from League One.
The visitors 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.
Wednesday’s second qualifier, against Bulgaria, is now even bigger and Northern Ireland will need something from the game to have any chance of staying competitive.
Despite playing three at the back, they were vulnerable to balls played over the top and an early warning came when Immobile got in behind Jonny Evans but scuffed his shot.
It was a warning they was not heeded and Italy opened the scoring on 14 minutes through Berardi’s excellent finish. Alessandro Florenzi played him in down the right and he cut inside onto his favoured left foot to fire past Bailey PeacockFarrell from a narrow angle.
Italy threatened a second and Peacock-Farrell made a fine point-blank save with his chest to keep out Immobile.
The impressive Berardi was the creator and he crossed again for Chelsea’s Emerson to head just wide. Yet for all the home side’s dominance of possession, their second goal on 39 minutes came from a lightning break following a rare attack by Northern Ireland.
Lorenzo Insigne fed Immobile on the left and the Lazio striker beat Peacock-Farrell far too easily at his near post.
Northern Ireland’s general play apart from their defending for the goals was encouraging and their strikeforce of Hull duo Josh Magennis and Gavin Whyte worked hard.
Baraclough’s side improved in the second half and had two chances in quick succession after a mistake by the normally rock-solid Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The AC Milan goalkeeper’s poor pass almost let Whyte in, and then he made a fine save to deny Michael Smith.