When time was finally called on Northern Ireland’s two-year pursuit of a second successive European Championship appearance Kyle Lafferty dropped to his knees and wept. One week after the death of his 41-year-old sister, Sonia, the striker stepped off the bench and almost reprised his role as his country’s saviour in Euros qualification. It was not to be. There was only heartache for Ian Baraclough and his players at Windsor Park.
“The worst I’ve ever felt after a game,” was how the new Northern
Ireland manager put it. The 1,060 fans allowed inside Windsor for the play-off final against Slovakia will no doubt concur. It was a tight, fraught night; the kind
Northern Ireland have relished in recent years and looked to have embraced once again when Paddy McNair forced Milan Skriniar to put through his own net in the 87th minute. That cancelled out Juraj Kucka’s first half goal for the visitors and appeared to swing the tie in the hosts’ favour in extra time.