Northern Ireland 2, Republic OF South Korea 1
Windsor Park, Belfast
For manager Michael O’ Neill forging a contender in the Norn Iron is not an easy endeavor but not difficult at the end. With a mix of youth and veterans in the Norn Iron initial eleven, the Michael O’ Neill era is off to another start and so far things are looking up positive.
Despite the Green and White Army not making it into the grand fete of the World Cup and their foes being in the list of invitees, this match saw a new era in football Northern style with a novel incorporation making a dream debut.
A squad plagued with several veterans but now its manager looking into the incorporation in slow steps of promising young players making their presentation and preparing for future competitions, at the end many of us like what we saw this past Saturday.
As the South Koreans are no walks in the park and for their manager Shin Tae- Yong making all the preparations of a perfect afternoon for football under the sun in a nice Belfast day and a sporting a total sold out.
The game was under way with an attacking formation sent by manager O’ Neill to counter the attack of the visiting Koreans game plan, with a 4-3-3 with Josh Magennis in the front accompanied by Jamie Ward and George Jones.
Still the novelties in the Norn Iron were Norwich City fullback Jamal Lewis and Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson, Millwall midfielder George Saville and game hero Queens Park Rangers forward Paul Smyth.
Promising is the ideal word to describe these lads that are looking forward to consolidate a spot in the national team as future starters and for sure these are paving a bright future ahead of them after what they showed off in this friendly.
Still there are some details to correct after the Boys from the North caught off guard with a nice volley sent by Son to his favorite target Kwoon Chang- Hoon in the seventh minute catching the whole Norn Iron defense out of touch for the first score.
Despite the surprise, the home field advantage worked well for a battling Norn Iron and with all the right moves performed by its manager at the end these paid off with a display of pure effort and winning desires put by the locals.
The locals almost opened the score in the 13 minute when the game official annulated in what could be the first goal of the Norn Iron by Jamie Ward in the 13 minute. After this play, the referee called out another play but this time against the Koreans with Son called offside.
However, despite the first goal by the Koreans, I give kudos to the Green and White Army defense stepping up and coming strong not allowing the Koreans dynamic duo of Son and Seung Hung- Min orchestrating all kind of attacks and plays.
For the locals, defense stepping up their act and effectively countered the Koreans offensive intents in a successful way all afternoon long.
With I considered a smart play created by veteran Oliver Norwood in a free kick attempt, surprising the Korean wall getting the ball Jamie Ward and this pushing it to the feet of defender Kim Min- Jae to equalize the match at one goal apiece.
Setting the stage for Paul Smyth with a combination between him and assists from Connor Washington strongly keeping an eye on the ball, passing it to Smyth, and converting in what became the winning goal in the 84 minute.
At the end, the moves performed by manager O’ Neill paid off as well his gambles with new faces in the Norn Iron lineup assuring a promising future for North Ireland football in the international stage.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of © Belfast Telegraph 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © Irish Football Association 2017
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