Kazakstan 1-0 Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s men slump to new low as defeat to Kazakstan ends all hope of qualifying for Euro 2024 and condemns them to a FIFTH loss in a row
Kazakhstan 1-0 Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s men sink to a new low as defeat to Kazakhstan ends all hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 and condemns them to a FIFTH defeat in a row
- Northern Ireland suffer a 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan, ending their Euro 2024 hopes
- Striker Makim Samorodov scored the only goal to sink Michael O’Neill’s team
- With the defeat, Northern Ireland loses its fifth match in a row
With only minnows San Marino for company at the foot of Group H, a fifth straight defeat for Northern Ireland added to their misery in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan, with Maksim Samorodov’s 20-yard goal being the only goal scored on a plastic pitch at the Astana Stadium, was the final nail in Northern Ireland’s coffin as they reluctantly accept that they will not grace next year’s tournament. Germany.
An estimated 150 supporters made the 4,000 kilometer journey to the capital of Kazakhstan. Manager Michael O’Neill hoped his injury-ravaged team would play for them with pride, but led by Jonny Evans, the 35-year-old Manchester United centre-back, Northern Ireland could not trouble their opponents enough.
This is despite the fact that Kazakhstan is forty places behind Northern Ireland in the world rankings. In contrast, they have now won four of their six matches in Group H and are in the thick of the qualifying battle alongside Finland, Denmark and Slovenia.
The home team’s winner came from Samorodov, the 21-year-old striker from Aktobe in the Kazakh Premier League. His powerful finish in the 27th minute flew past Bailey Peacock-Farrell and left the Northern Ireland defenders, including Evans, protesting.
Northern Ireland sinks to a new low after a 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan ended Euro hopes
Maksim Samorodov (10) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winning goal
New Man Utd recruit Jonny Evans failed to lead Northern Ireland to victory
Samorodov had been given too much space in front of the penalty area and scored with the home side’s first shot on target.
Kazakhstan continued to threaten to score before half-time as Peacock-Farrell felt the pressure. Yet it was Northern Ireland who had the clearest chance to score next.
The visitors thought they had equalized when Conor Washington found Matty Kennedy, whose cross shot bounced over goal. Conor McMenamin looked set to finish from a yard out, but Samorodov somehow beat him to the ball. That intervention was as good as a goal from the Kazakhstani attacker, who helped his team out of danger.
The final twenty minutes were all about Northern Ireland but, perhaps predictably for a team that has now failed to score in four of their last five qualifying matches, the finishing touch was missing. The equalizer proved elusive and their fifth defeat in a row was confirmed.
The only good news for Northern Ireland is that San Marino is next October – a match that should guarantee O’Neill and his men a much-needed victory.
