Summary

  • Northern Ireland beaten in first Nations League game

  • Duljevic taps Bosnia-Herzegovina in front against run of play

  • Poor Cathcart header allows Saric to double lead

  • Late Grigg strike gives NI hope

  • Hosts have lost past three competitive home games

  1. 'NI need to mix up corners'published at 14:35 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Stephen Craigan
    Former NI defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Northern Ireland are going to have to try something different from their corners.

    The penalty area is overcrowded and they aren't getting any joy - maybe they need to try a few short ones to draw the defenders out.

  2. CLOSE!published at 31 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Out of nowhere!

    Edin Dzeko sprays the ball out wide to Edin Visca, who waits for Dzeko to continue his run into the box before playing a return pass that Dzeko slams first time straight at Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

    For all their dominance, the hosts really need to be careful of getting caught out like that.

  3. Postpublished at 28 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Jonny Evans meets the corner but can only cushion a header into Ibrahim Sehic's hands.

  4. Postpublished at 26 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Great delivery from the right by Conor McLaughlin, trying to find Kyle Lafferty, but he is just beaten to the ball by his marker.

    Another corner for the hosts...

    Kyle LaffertyImage source, Reuters
  5. Postpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

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  6. Penalty appealpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    This was the moment Northern Ireland felt they should have had an early spot-kick. Ervin Zukanovic appeared to have brought down George Saville three minutes into the match - but it wasn't given.

    NI's George Saville is challenged by Ervin ZukanovicImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    NI's George Saville is challenged by Ervin Zukanovic

  7. Postpublished at 22 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Eldar Civic heads down Ollie Norwood's ball into the box and the ball falls to Steven Davis, who rattles a first time effort up into the top tier.

    Are Northern Ireland going to rue not taking one of these many chances?

    Steven DavisImage source, PA
  8. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Oh so close!

    Conor McLaughlin squares a low ball across the face of goal, George Saville stretches out a boot but just can't quite reach it before Stuart Dallas thumps a long-ranger just wide.

    Bosnia-Herzegovina have absolutely lost the battle down the flanks, Niall McGinn and Dallas owning those positions.

    George SavilleImage source, PA
  9. Postpublished at 17 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    The lively Niall McGinn powers into the area from the right and slams a shot at goal, Ibrahim Sehic beats away at his near post before his defender hooks the loose ball away before a Northern Ireland player can pounce.

    I'm amazed that Northern Ireland have 'only' had 59% possession. Feels like near total dominance.

  10. Decibels risingpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie at Windsor Park: "Encouraged by their team's enterprising start, Northern Ireland fans are in full voice and going through their repertoire of songs on a mild pleasant afternoon in Belfast.

    "What the home fans crave most though is a goal to reward all the early dominance of the men in green.

    "A small but enthusiastic band of Bosnian supporters are congregated in a small corner of the stadium behind a 'Boys from Bosnia' banner and are struggling to make themselves heard above the din.

    "The visiting supporters are making their presence felt however with a series of energetic dance routines."

    Bosnia fansImage source, PA
  11. Postpublished at 15 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    Finally, some respite for their defence and a chance to attack for Bosnia-Herzegovina as Eldar Civic finds space on left. His first cross fails to beat the first man and Civic then gives away a foul as he battles for the loose ball.

  12. Postpublished at 12 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Mo Besic is being given a torrid time by Stuart Dallas and Jamal Lewis down the flank. Twelve minutes in and Bosnia-Herzegovina have done nothing but defend.

    Stuart DallasImage source, PA
  13. Postpublished at 9 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    The visitors' box is under near constant bombardment as Northern Ireland win a corner but Ollie Norwood's in-swinger is cleared.

  14. Postpublished at 7 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Nial McGinn's forward ball strikes Miralem Pjanic's arm and Northern Ireland have a free-lick just outside the area - Ollie Norwood territory.

    Norwood's effort is disappointing, though, as he fires well over the bar.

    Oliver NorwoodImage source, Reuters
  15. Postpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

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  16. Postpublished at 4 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Great start by Northern Ireland. They are not letting the visitors settle at all, forcing them into errors when in possession.

  17. PENALTY APPEALpublished at 3 mins

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Oooooh, big penalty shout inside the first few minutes.

    George Saville skips into the area before tumbling to the ground under a challenge. The home fans scream for a penalty... nothing given! Referee was in a great position to see if there was a foul, though.

    George SavilleImage source, Reuters
  18. KICK-OFFpublished at 1 min

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Bosnia-Herezegovina

    And we're under way!

    Northern IrelandImage source, Reuters
  19. Postpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

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  20. Atmosphere buildingpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 8 September 2018

    Northern Ireland v Bosnia-Herzegovina (14:00 BST)

    BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie at Windsor Park: "The atmosphere is building inside Windsor Park ahead of Northern Ireland's first competitive game since that controversial heart-breaking World Cup play-off against Switzerland 10 months ago.

    "There certainly isn't the tension that was palpable before those hugely important fixtures but there is a sense that a positive result is important given the possibility offered by the Nations League as a potential backdoor route to the Euros.

    "A lack of regular first-team football for many of his players will be a concern for manager Michael O'Neill but the NI boss will be heartened by the club form of his strikers at the start of the new season.

    "Liam Boyce, Kyle Lafferty, Will Grigg and Josh Magennis (missing today because of injury) have plundered 14 goals between them so far this campaign. Good news given that Northern Ireland have failed to score in all but one of their last six matches.

    "The retirement of Chris Brunt is a blow but the emergence of young talent such as Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Jamal Lewis, George Saville and Jordan Jones provide cause for optimism."

    Northern Ireland warm upImage source, PA