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Conor McMenamin failed to convert Northern Ireland's best chanceInjury-hit Northern Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifier misery continued as a 1-0 defeat away to Kazakhstan stretched their losing streak to five matches.
A superb first-half goal by Maxim Samorodov was the difference in a drab, tight encounter in Astana.
Conor McMenamin missed an excellent chance to equalise for the visitors before the break and Conor Washington had a second-half shot saved.
NI now have just three points from their opening six Group H matches.
They went into this week's double-header with very little prospect of qualifying for the finals in Germany next summer and now sit nine points behind the group leaders with four matches to play.
With Michael O'Neill having returned for a second spell in charge ahead of what many felt was a favourable Euro qualifying group, a chronic injury list has robbed him of key players and been a major factor in them having lost every match since beating minnows San Marino in their opener.
O'Neill was without 12 players for Sunday's match because of injury and has had up 17 players missing at various stages of the qualifying campaign.
Having produced an attacking, if at times chaotic, display in Thursday night's 4-2 defeat in Slovenia, when defensive errors cost them dearly, Northern Ireland had a much more disciplined and compact approach against Kazakhstan and looked comfortable for most of a game of few chances.
Indeed, Samorodov's goal in the 27th minute, a real display of quality technique and finishing, was the only shot on target in the first half.
The number 10 received a pass inside on the half-turn, 25 yards out, and a fine first touch allowed him to beat Daniel Ballard before shifting the ball and firing an arrowed, low drive that flashed across Bailey Peacock-Farrell and nestled in the bottom corner.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Kazakhstan
Formation 5-4-1
- 12Shatskiy
- 16TapalovSubstituted forMaliyat 71'minutes
- 4BystrovBooked at 90mins
- 22Marochkin
- 3Alip
- 11VorogovskiySubstituted forDosmagambetovat 45'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 19ZaynutdinovBooked at 90minsSubstituted forAymbetovat 88'minutes
- 21BeisebekovSubstituted forDarabayevat 71'minutes
- 8TagybergenBooked at 73mins
- 20Orazov
- 10SamorodovBooked at 30minsSubstituted forKuatat 56'minutesBooked at 77mins
Substitutes
- 1Shaizada
- 2Maliy
- 5Kuat
- 6Chesnokov
- 7Darabayev
- 9Astanov
- 13Kairov
- 14Skvortsov
- 15Zarutskiy
- 17Aymbetov
- 18Dosmagambetov
- 23Erlanov
Northern Ireland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 17McNairBooked at 90mins
- 22BallardBooked at 83mins
- 5Evans
- 3Hume
- 19Charles
- 7McMenaminSubstituted forSmythat 45'minutes
- 16McCannSubstituted forMagennisat 70'minutes
- 6SavilleSubstituted forThompsonat 45'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 13KennedySubstituted forJonesat 63'minutes
- 9WashingtonSubstituted forCharlesat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Spencer
- 4Toal
- 8Smyth
- 10Charles
- 11Jones
- 12Hazard
- 14Price
- 15Thompson
- 18Lyons
- 20Lane
- 21Magennis
- 23Southwood
Live Text
Match ends, Kazakhstan 1, Northern Ireland 0.
Second Half ends, Kazakhstan 1, Northern Ireland 0.
Attempt blocked. Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Jordan Thompson (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card.
Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov (Kazakhstan) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, Kazakhstan. Aslan Darabayev tries a through ball, but Abat Aymbetov is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Askhat Tagybergen (Kazakhstan) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland).
Timur Dosmagambetov (Kazakhstan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jordan Jones (Northern Ireland).
Marat Bystrov (Kazakhstan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Aleksandr Marochkin (Kazakhstan).
Foul by Dion Charles (Northern Ireland).
Aleksandr Marochkin (Kazakhstan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Marat Bystrov (Kazakhstan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Trai Hume (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marat Bystrov (Kazakhstan).
Foul by Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).
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