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Wednesday February 11, 2009 Finished Stadio Olimpico

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San Marino

Northern Ireland

  • McAuley 7’
  • McCann 31’
  • Brunt 63’

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  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • San Marino
    • Northern Ireland
    • 90 FULL-TIME: It started very promisingly for NI, then got very scrappy. But they got the job done and now sit second in Group 3 behind Slovakia.
    • 87 Johnson has probably been my man of the match; he has been constant movement up and down the right flank and has consistently put in some good low crosses.
    • 86 Healy finally works the keeper with a low shot from 20 yards...easily saved.
    • 85 Other than the three goals, I can hardly think of a save that NI have forced Valentini to make; it has been more possession than pressure.
    • 84 Healy is caught offside after he thinks he has sprung the trap down the left flank.
    • 83 It's very sloppy and scrappy at the moment; the best you can say is that NI have got the job done and will sit second in the table this evening.
    • 82 ...blocked by the wall...Simoncini hits the follow-up...good low save by Taylor, who maintains his concentration well.
    • 81 San Marino win a free-kick in a dangerous spot on the edge of the box after a foul by Craigan.
    • 79 NI SUB: McCort comes on to replace skipper Hughes, who has put in another classy shift.
    • 78 The game has really broken up in the last ten minutes or so; San Marino are doing a great job of breaking things up and keeping the score to 3-0.
    • 77 Healy holds his hands up after shoving Simoncini into the advertising hoardings.
    • 76 NI SUB: Feeney comes on to replace Paterson.
    • 75 Paterson thinks he has won his side a free-kick in a dangerous spot when he runs into his marker...the referee awards a goal-kick.
    • 74 Healy flicks the ball from boot to boot inside the box, but just can't bring it under control to get his shot away.
    • 72 That was such a stupid error from the veteran striker; his side are going to be really up against it in the final stages now...
    • 70 MARANI IS OFF! He leaves his studs in on a challenge with Craigan and is shown a straight red!
    • 68 Davis is booked and misses the game against Poland; another very silly yellow card! Late on Marani, and the tackle deserved a yellow!
    • 67 SAN MARINO SUB: Bugli comes on to replace Muccioli.
    • 66 BLOCK! Della Valle makes a crucial block inside the box after Healy had broken down the right and teed up McCann on the edge of the 18-yard line.
    • 65 Three goals away from home for NI for the first time in 41 years.
    • 64 BRUNT! The substitute makes his mark almost immediately as his free-kick in the box skids past everyone and skips inside the far post!
    • 63 Marani is down taking some treatment, but he is back on his feet now.
    • 62 NI are doing enough here, but this second half performance is hardly very inspirational; they haven't shown enough urgency for me.
    • 60 OFF THE BAR! Amazingly, McCann's free-kick clips the crossbar! Suggestions that he actually went for that; if he did it was from a very tight angle.
    • 59 NI win a free-kick on the left...swung into the middle...
    • 57 Johnson sends over another dangerous cross from the right...cleared at the near post...he has been at the heart of most of NI's best moves this evening.
    • 56 NI are knocking the ball about comfortably, but there is no real change of tempo to get San Marino working hard off the ball.
    • 55 NI SUB: Brunt on for Lafferty.
    • 54 NI are ready to make a change; Brunt is stripping off on the touchline.
    • 52 SHOT! Barriocchi takes advantage of some slack defending to fire in a shot from distance...it doesn't trouble Taylor, but he is angry at how his defenders backed off.
    • 51 To their credit, San Marino are trying to get some men forward in this second half; they are not sitting back and waiting to be beaten.
    • 49 Another bad tackly by Simoncini on Lafferty; he might have been booked for that.
    • 48 Another early goal for NI will really set them up to have a good bash at improving their goal difference in the final stages - and for Worthington to make some changes.
    • 47 NI need to keep their discipline because some of the San Marino tackling has been a bit fruity; NI don't need any needless bookings.
    • 46 Can't have been too much to say at half time for NI; no changes at the break either.
    • 45 HALF-TIME: NI dominant and comfortable with their lead...no sign of an upset, the visitors are in control.
    • 44 Healy wins his side a freekick after being tripped on the right...
    • 43 Healy's ambitous effort from the edge of the box...hooked over his head...the ball flies narrowly wide...he's getting closer.
    • 42 Lafferty has occasionally been a little sloppy with his passes in midfield; he has given the ball away on three occasions with passes across the half-way line.
    • 41 Marini tries a cheeky effort from distance...Taylor is off his line a little, but the ball drifts harmlessly over.
    • 40 To be fair, San Marino have improved after a poor start; they are battling hard in midfield.
    • 39 The crowd are finding their voices; quite a decent traveling support for the visitors, trying to keep warm with some chanting.
    • 38 Healy has done a lot of selfless running; he isn't just standing in the box, waiting for the service.
    • 36 AMBITIOUS! Lafferty takes the keeper by surprise by going from goal from 30 yards, out on the left...the keeper looks to be struggling but the ball doesn't dip enough.
    • 34 Another goal and NI should be assured of second place in the group this evening; they should give them real heart.
    • 33 NI have had a lot of success from set-pieces this evening; if they can get some balls into the box, they'll get a hatful more tonight.
    • 32 McCann looks to have firmly got his side on their way to three points now.
    • 31 GOAL! MCCANN! The midfielder shifts the ball onto his right boot, usually his swinger...but he curls a delightful finish inside the post from the edge of the box!
    • 29 Johnson's cross from the right finds its way through to Lafferty at the back post...he moves the ball onto his right foot, but his low curler is saved.
    • 28 A Johnson cross from the right is deflected...a San Marino boot flicks the ball dangerously into the air in the six-yard box...but Paterson can't get on the end of it.
    • 27 If NI can get Healy on the ball in the box, then they should be okay; he has scored two in two games for Sunderland, so is hitting some form as he finally gets some time on the pitch.
    • 26 Mucciolis booked for a foul on Healy as the prolific striker nicked the ball off him in the San Marino half.
    • 25 NI are trying to keep the ball on the deck and play some good football; they have a bit of time and space to pick a pass, so it should be a good policy.
    • 23 Muccioli fires a free-kick into the NI box...slightly overhit to the back post, and the visitors clear.
    • 22 Mirani fires in San Marino's first effort of the night, a bobbling low effort which Taylor saves comfortably.
    • 21 A few of the San Marino players are puffing already...NI have been all over them in the opening stages.
    • 20 Lots of NI players are chasing their first international goal...San Marino is the place to break your duck...they have only one professional player.
    • 18 A stupid booking for Lafferty who misses the next game after being shown the yellow card for a late challenge after over-running the ball.
    • 17 Lafferty runs at the defenders after being picked out by a ranging pass to the left...but he runs into trouble.
    • 16 Johnson just catches Berretti with a slightly studs-up challenge...the defender needs lengthy treatment.
    • 15 Another corner almost yields a chance for the visitors; the marking in the penalty box is woeful.
    • 14 Almost a second as another corner causes panic in the San Marino box...Lafferty has a stab at goal blocked and NI win another corner...
    • 13 3-0 or better will see NI go second in their group on goal difference...something to aim for on a night when it would be easy to let your mind drift.
    • 12 Nigel Worthington has been in charge for seven away competitive fixtures before this one...he'll be delighted to be in front as he chases his first win.
    • 10 A crowded penalty area at the moment; NI are heaping the pressure on early.
    • 9 Big Ipswich centre-half McCauley is the first NI player to score away from home in this qualifying campaign; it's his first international goal.
    • 8 JUST THE START WE WANTED! McCauley slides in to meet the corner and lashes a shot into the roof of the net to get NI up and running early!
    • 7 NI win another corner when Della Valle shepherds the ball behind at the near post, rather needlessly...
    • 6 McCann whips the corner into the middle...good delivery, but the ball evades everyone.
    • 5 A low cross from the right from Paterson almost catches the keeper unaware at the near post...first corner of the night...
    • 4 Northern Ireland are targetting nine points from this and their next two matches as they bid to make a rare appearance at a major finals...
    • 2 A first visit to San Marino for Northern Ireland...it's a very, very cold evening.
    • 1 OFF WE GO!
    • 0 The players are out and we're almost ready for the off...
    • - Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson returns to the Northern Ireland side for the first time in 11 months after injury problems. It is a boost for manager Nigel Worthington given that Sammy Clingan had to return home because of a thigh strain.
    • - Hi there; welcome to our coverage of this World Cup Qualifier: how will Northern Ireland cope against this improving San Marino side?

  • Summary

    • 70 MARANI IS OFF! He leaves his studs in on a challenge with Craigan and is shown a straight red!
    • 64 BRUNT! The substitute makes his mark almost immediately as his free-kick in the box skids past everyone and skips inside the far post!
    • 31 GOAL! MCCANN! The midfielder shifts the ball onto his right boot, usually his swinger...but he curls a delightful finish inside the post from the edge of the box!
    • 8 JUST THE START WE WANTED! McCauley slides in to meet the corner and lashes a shot into the roof of the net to get NI up and running early!

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