Ireland pay penalty for a ‘handball’

NORTHERN Ireland experienced their own Thierry Henry moment in a World Cup play-off as Switzerland gained the upper hand in Belfast with a controversially-awarded penalty.

Eight years after Henry handled in the build-up to the goal which sent France through against the Republic of Ireland, referee Ovidiu Hategan awarded a penalty in Belfast when he ruled Xherdan Shaqiri’s volley struck Corry Evans’ arm, which was tucked into his side, as he turned his body from close range.

Ricardo Rodriguez converted the spot-kick in the 58th minute to give the visitors an away goal and a 1-0 lead ahead of Sunday’s return leg in Basel, where Michael O’Neill’s men have it all to do.

They will be driven on there by a sense of injustice because of a decision that may well have been overturned had a video referee, being trialled in England’s friendly with Germany, been in place.

For a team aiming to be the first in 32 years to represent Northern Ireland at a World Cup, and one O’Neill had called more deserving of success than anyone else in his programme notes, it was harsh.

This was the biggest fixture staged in Belfast since Northern Ireland beat Greece 3-1 in 2015 to qualify for the European Championship.

The hosts had reached this stage in large part thanks to two big home victories over Norway and the Czech Republic, when O’Neill’s men scored two early goals on both occasions.

That was the template to follow but the Swiss were not shocked by their surroundings like those two nations and soon took control, with Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka rifling two good attempts from the edge of the box off target.

Northern Ireland looked too deep, and were getting little help from the recalled Kyle Lafferty in terms of an outlet.

They failed to register a single effort on target in the opening 45 minutes, which might have concluded with a Swiss goal had Stephan Lichtsteiner kept his feet from Blerim Dzemaili’s flick-on.

It was not long before the Swiss finally found a way through, but it was shrouded in controversy.

Shaqiri’s viciously-hit volley cannoned into Corry Evans’ tucked-in arm as he swivelled in the box and the midfielder, along with the majority of those inside Windsor Park, was in disbelief when a penalty was given.

Rodriguez sent McGovern the wrong way with the spot-kick to give Switzerland the advantage.