Northern Eire supervisor Michael O’Neill cursed a ‘freak’ first worldwide purpose for Newcastle’s file signing Nick Woltemade as Germany snuck a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win in Belfast.
Woltemade turned the ball in with the again of his shoulder as Germany facet left Windsor Park with three factors that preserve them high of Group A, degree with Slovakia and three forward of O’Neill’s facet.
A younger Northern Eire as soon as once more performed with loads of intent, rising into the sport and managing extra makes an attempt at purpose than their illustrious guests, however a scarcity of leading edge proved pricey in O’Neill’s a centesimal recreation in cost.
Daniel Ballard had a 14th-minute strike dominated out with Paddy McNair offside within the build-up, nevertheless it was in any other case all half-chances they may not drive in, leaving them with all of it to do to get into Group A’s high two – though they nonetheless have a possible security web through the Nations League.
“We’re disillusioned,” O’Neill stated. “It was a sore loss. I assumed within the first half we lacked a bit little bit of perception with the ball. To be truthful, Germany compelled their physicality on high of us and it was tough for us to get any sort of rhythm.
“The purpose that was disallowed would definitely have helped us at that time however it’s offside and we shouldn’t actually be offside in that state of affairs so it’s an error on our half.
“The purpose we lose is a freak purpose, we must always defend the nook higher nevertheless it comes off the participant’s shoulder and results in our web, so it wasn’t even a header.
“That’s disappointing, however within the second half we had been terrific, we gave all the pieces and we simply couldn’t drive an equaliser.
“It felt like a recreation that was both going to be determined by a second of one thing particular or a little bit of a freak purpose, which is in the end the way it was determined.”
O’Neill and numerous Northern Eire gamers went to talk to referee Jesus Gil Manzano on the finish of the match – sad that he had solely added on two minutes of stoppage time throughout a spell during which Northern Eire had Germany pegged again.
“I believe he added three (minutes) within the first half,” O’Neill stated. “I’m undecided what number of substitutions there have been, however so as to add two minutes I assumed was ridiculous, to be sincere.
“I’m not going to enter it however we weren’t pleased with the referee’s efficiency on the night time, let’s be sincere. I assumed he was over-fussy. (However) look, all the large selections had been proper.”
