Ten-man Northern Ireland’s dismal Euro 2024 qualifying campaign continued as they lost 1-0 to Slovenia on another disappointing night at Windsor Park.
Adam Cerin’s superb early free-kick won a scrappy game for the Group H leaders, with teenage midfielder Shea Charles being sent off just before the hour.
Substitute George Saville had two good chances saved in the final 20 minutes as struggling NI fell to their sixth defeat in eight qualifying games.
They beat San Marino 3-0 on Saturday.
Having opened their campaign in March with a 2-0 away victory over the minnows, it means Michael O’Neill’s men go into their final two matches in the group with their only points having come against the world’s lowest-ranked side.
Those remaining games are away to Finland then at home to Denmark, who had to come from behind to beat San Marino 2-1 to stay second in the table.
In-form Slovenia, meanwhile, celebrated with their travelling fans as the end of what was their sixth win in eight qualifiers to keep them ahead of the Danes at the summit on goal difference.
Kazakhstan also boosted their hopes of qualification by coming from behind to win 2-1 in Finland in Tuesday night’s other Group H match.
The fifth-minute goal that won Tuesday night’s often disjointed encounter at Windsor Park was exquisite. Northern Ireland left-back Jamal Lewis was adjudged to have fouled Benjamin Sesko 20 yards from goal, and Cerin fired an outstanding right-foot shot that curled around the wall and flew into the top corner.
Northern Ireland went into the match knowing that any hopes of qualifying for next summer’s finals in Germany were long gone, but boosted by Saturday’s comfortable victory over San Marino and determined to finish the group strongly.
It has been a campaign decimated by injuries for O’Neill, many to experienced key players, and their problems continued ahead of kick-off with centre-half Dan Ballard ruled out with a calf injury and Paddy McNair suspended after picking up a booking on Saturday.
O’Neill sprung a surprise by handing senior international debuts to Bolton Wanderers centre-half Eoin Toal and Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons, and keeping the same front three of Paul Smyth, Josh Magennis and Dale Taylor that started against San Marino.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Northern Ireland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 2Hume
- 22Toal
- 5EvansBooked at 87mins
- 3Lewis
- 19CharlesBooked at 58mins
- 8SmythBooked at 60minsSubstituted forCharlesat 63′minutes
- 18LyonsSubstituted forMcMenaminat 86′minutes
- 15ThompsonBooked at 59minsSubstituted forPriceat 63′minutes
- 13TaylorSubstituted forSavilleat 62′minutes
- 21MagennisSubstituted forWashingtonat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Forbes
- 6Saville
- 7McMenamin
- 9Washington
- 10Charles
- 11Kennedy
- 12Hazard
- 14Price
- 16Marshall
- 17Lane
- 20Spencer
- 23Southwood
Slovenia
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Oblak
- 2Karnicnik
- 4Blazic
- 6Bijol
- 13JanzaSubstituted forVerbicat 84′minutes
- 20Stojanovic
- 22Cerin
- 21ElsnikBooked at 37mins
- 15MlakarSubstituted forLovricat 75′minutes
- 9SporarBooked at 56minsSubstituted forKurticat 76′minutes
- 11Sesko
Substitutes
- 3Balkovec
- 5Gorenc Stankovic
- 7Verbic
- 8Lovric
- 10Zajc
- 12Belec
- 14Kurtic
- 16Turk
- 17Vipotnik
- 18Celar
- 19Zahovic
- 23Drkusic
Live Text
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Match ends, Northern Ireland 0, Slovenia 1.
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Second Half ends, Northern Ireland 0, Slovenia 1.
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Attempt saved. Adam Cerin (Slovenia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Benjamin Verbic.
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Foul by Benjamin Verbic (Slovenia).
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Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jan Oblak (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Trai Hume (Northern Ireland).
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Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Benjamin Sesko.
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Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland. Conor McMenamin replaces Brad Lyons.
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Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Jaka Bijol.
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Attempt saved. Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Benjamin Verbic.
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Substitution, Slovenia. Benjamin Verbic replaces Erik Janza because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. George Saville (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Conor Washington.
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Attempt missed. Dion Charles (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jamal Lewis.
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Foul by Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia).
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Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Slovenia. Jasmin Kurtic replaces Andraz Sporar.
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Substitution, Slovenia. Sandi Lovric replaces Jan Mlakar.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.