Euro 2024 qualifier: San Marino Northern Ireland
AFTER bringing back the old boss Michael O’Neill, the Green and White Army also re-purposed an old chant: “Dion’s on fire, your defence is terrified!”
Dion Charles has faced tougher defences, indeed he only finally broke his international duck in this, his 14th appearance, but at least he did so at the double. The headline writers were hoping for him to hit a hat-trick, to be crowned ‘King Charles the Third’, but three points and a clean sheet were more important.
A goal in each half from the Bolton Wanderer gave O’Neill a winning start to his second spell, capping off a solid, positive overall performance from a fairly new-look team.
For San Marino defender Roberto di Maio, his international life began at 40, making him more than twice as old as the combined aged of two teenagers in the NI team, 19-year=olds Conor Bradley and Shea Charles.
Aghyaran lad Bradley, on loan at Bolton from Liverpool, was the right wing-back, with Jamal Lewis on the opposite flank. Captain Craig Cathcart anchored a back three, while Paddy McNair played in behind a forward duo of Dion Charles and Conor Washington.
For a time, despite the colour of their kit, the visitors were far from mustard, with not enough pace or ambition in their passing. There seemed to be only one yellow top among the Green and White Army, who had little to sing about for a while.
The first real chance came to McNair, with both wing-backs involved in the instigation of the move. Bradley carried the ball forward well and when possession came across the field to Lewis he neatly flicked it on to George Saville. The midfielder’s fine cross was headed powerfully downwards by McNair, but goalkeeper Elia Benedettini dived to his left to push it away.
Filippo Berardi then raced clear to draw a smart foot save from Bailey Peacock-Farrell, but the home attacker was well offside, as the belated flag acknowledged.
A fairly dull opening quarter ended with a whipped Saville corner almost being connected with by Cathcart – and within a minute the visitors did have the lead.
Washington was the provider, racing away after a quickly-taken free kick to deliver a delightful centre from the right, and Dion Charles applied a striker’s finish, turning the bouncing ball in at the far post with his outstretched right boot.
With confidence up, McNair released Bradley on the right, and the youngster skipped over a lunging challenge before swinging a low ball into the box, but Saville’s first-time effort flew over the bar.
There was then almost a classy Charles combination, but Dion could not quite reach a chipped pass over the defence from Shea.
A second goal seemed imminent, but when a Bradley burst created a chance for Lewis, but he twirled on the ball rather than shooting, and as the hosts broke out left centre-back Ciaron Brown got booked for ending the counter, deep in San Marino territory.
The increasingly impressive Bradley then drew a flying save from Benedettini with a rising drive, but NI had to settle for that one goal lead at half-time.
Home coach Fabrizio Costantini made two changes at the interval, but the travelling support still felt emboldened to compare their sky blue-clad hosts unfavourably to Ballymena United as the pattern of attack against defence continued.
The game seemed to enter a lull, but out of the blue it was two. Lewis lofted a lovely clipped cross from the left and Dion’s diving header beat Benedettini and a defender to cross the line.
Bradley then had a belter blocked, and Washington’s follow-up was deflected and trickled wide as the visitors scented blood.
San Marino’s ever-optimistic fans thought they had pulled one back after Nicola Nanni slotted in, but rather than being a contender for their GOAT, he had strayed offside.
O’Neill made his first changes after that, handing a senior debut to 27-year-old Cameron McGeehan, and also putting on Josh Magennis for Washington.
A few minutes later on came Shane Ferguson and Jordan Thompson, and, as the game petered out, another debutant in yellow, and another teenager, Everton midfielder Isaac Price.
To their eternal credit, San Marino kept pushing forward, pushing for a goal to reward their loyal followers, but it was the fans in green who got to enjoy themselves, singing and dancing as the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign started promisingly.
Finland, who lost 3-1 away to Denmark, come to Windsor Park on Sunday. A home win then and Northern Ireland really will be cooking with gas.
San Marino: Benedettini; Palazzi (capt.) (Tosi, h-t), Fabbri, Rossi (Cevoli, h-t), Berardi (Rinaldi, 60), Manuel Battistini, Di Maio, Lazzari, Golinucci, Nanni (Vitaioli, 85), Capicchoni (Michael Battistini, 72).
Northern Ireland (3-5-2): Peacock-Farrell; Ballard (McGeehan, 67), Cathcart (capt.), Brown (Price, 82); Bradley, S Charles, Saville (Thompson, 73), McNair, Lewis (Ferguson, 73); D Charles, Washington (Magennis, 67).
Referee: Gergo Bogar (Hungary).
