Greece 3-1 Northern Ireland: NI avoid Nations League relegation as dismal campaign ends

2 years ago 35

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Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans looks dejected as Greece score in Athens

Northern Ireland managed to retain their Nations League third-tier status despite a dismal 3-1 defeat by Greece.

With Cyprus losing in Kosovo it meant Northern Ireland avoided having to face a Group C relegation play-off.

A goalkeeping error from Bailey Peacock-Farrell gifted Dimitris Pelkas an early opener but Shayne Lavery equalised three minutes later.

Giorgos Masouras slotted home to restore Greece's advantage and Petros Mantalos blasted in the third.

After ending a 14-game winless Nations League run with victory over Kosovo in Belfast on Saturday, Northern Ireland went into Tuesday's match in Athens knowing that they would avoid a relegation play-off if they matched or bettered the Cypriots' result.

However, the defeat means Baraclough's men face the prospect of dropping into pot five of the Euro 2024 qualifiers that get under way next year.

Giorgos Masouras shots past Bailey Peacock-Farrell to put Greece 2-1 in front

After losing Jordan Thompson to an early injury, the visitors' night got much worse on 15 minutes when a horrendous error from Bailey Peacock-Farrell led to the hosts taking the lead.

The Burnley keeper came out to collect a deep right-wing cross but collided with team-mate Paddy McNair and dropped the ball, allowing Pelkas to stoop and head into an unguarded net.

Baraclough's men were only behind for three minutes, however, producing a fantastic response to equalise through Lavery, who was brought into the starting XI after impressing off the bench at the weekend.

Captain Steven Davis delivered a beautiful inswinging cross from the left and Lavery pounced to steer home a volley from close range to bring the sides level.

A rare mistake by Davis led to Masouras tucking into the bottom corner from eight yards after 55 minutes.

The third came courtesy of a late 25-yard bullet strike by Mantalos that Peacock-Farrell was unable to keep out ten minutes from time.

Line-ups

Greece

Formation 4-3-3

1Vlachodimos
2Baldock
4Mavropanos
17Hatzidiakos
21Tsimikas
11BakasetasSubstituted forBouchalakisat 76'minutes
6Kourbelis
20MantalosBooked at 16minsSubstituted forGoutasat 90+3'minutes
7MasourasSubstituted forChatzigiovanisat 76'minutes
23IoannidisSubstituted forDouvikasat 67'minutes
10PelkasSubstituted forFountasat 67'minutes

Substitutes

3Kyriakopoulos
5Bouchalakis
8Alexandropoulos
9Douvikas
12Paschalakis
13Barkas
14Rota
15Papanikolaou
16Fountas
18Goutas
19Koulierakis
22Chatzigiovanis

Northern Ireland

Formation 5-3-2

1Peacock-Farrell
2BradleySubstituted forCharlesat 68'minutes
17McNair
4FlanaganBooked at 84mins
5Evans
3LewisSubstituted forFergusonat 76'minutes
8Davis
15ThompsonSubstituted forSavilleat 10'minutes
16McCannBooked at 79mins
9LaverySubstituted forWhyteat 68'minutes
21MagennisSubstituted forMcMenaminat 77'minutes

Substitutes

6Saville
7McMenamin
10Charles
11Ferguson
12Hazard
13Evans
14Balmer
18Whyte
19Lane
20Charles
22Brown
23Southwood

Live Text

Match ends, Greece 3, Northern Ireland 1.
Second Half ends, Greece 3, Northern Ireland 1.
Anastasios Douvikas (Greece) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland).
Substitution, Greece. Dimitrios Goutas replaces Petros Mantalos.
Corner, Greece. Conceded by Shane Ferguson.
Attempt saved. Konstantinos Tsimikas (Greece) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Konstantinos Tsimikas (Greece) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Taxiarchis Fountas.
Andreas Bouchalakis (Greece) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alistair McCann (Northern Ireland).
Foul by Taxiarchis Fountas (Greece).
Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by George Baldock (Greece).
Conor McMenamin (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Anastasios Chatzigiovanis (Greece).
Shane Ferguson (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Anastasios Douvikas (Greece) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland).
Foul by Anastasios Chatzigiovanis (Greece).