Summary

  • NI beaten in opening 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier

  • Italy take early lead through close-range Berardi strike

  • Immobile drills in Italy's second

  • Captain Davis wins 125th cap

  • Switzerland, Lithuania & Bulgaria also in Group C

  • NI play second qualifier on Wednesday v Bulgaria

  1. Goodbyepublished at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    That's all from us tonight. I'll leave you with Mark Sterling's report and see you later!

  2. Postpublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

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  3. 'Can't fault the second half'published at 22:04 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough, speaking to Sky Sports: "More intensity. We were far too passive in the first half. We sat off it and gave them a little too much respect. We changed that at half time and a lot better.

    "I said to them I think you need to believe in yourselves more at times because you are better than what you give yourselves credit.

    "We played with much more intensity in the second half and that is more like what we are. I can't fault what they did in the second half and they should have got something for their efforts."

  4. World Cup qualifying round-uppublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Sounds like the real action in World Cup qualifying this evening was in Hungary, where Robert Lewandowski has snatched a 3-3 draw for Poland with a late goal. There was also enough time left for Attila Fiola to get a second yellow and red card for the home side before full-time.

    Germany settled for three goals in the end against Iceland, but it was frustrating one for Spain, who were held at home by Greece.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his return to international football with an assist for Viktor Claesson to score the only goal as Sweden beat Georgia.

  5. Postpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

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  6. Unbeaten run continuespublished at 21:48 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    • Italy remain unbeaten at home in World Cup qualifiers, with this being their 56th such game without suffering a defeat (W47 D9).
    • Northern Ireland are winless in their last five World Cup qualifier games (D1 L4), while they’ve failed to score in each of the last four.
    • Northern Ireland have only kept one clean sheet in their last 14 games (0-0 v Netherlands in November 2019), and none in their most recent 10 outings.
    • Ciro Immobile has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven starts for Italy, scoring four goals and providing three assists.

  7. 'Qualification will be difficult'published at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    The Italians dominated the first half. There was one good goal but the second was down to a fault with keeper but we looked well off the pace. They took their foot off the pedal in the second-half and we had a couple of half chances which maybe could have changed the game. We have to be better than that against Bulgaria, and I think we will be but going by that performance it will be very difficult to qualify from this group.

  8. 'We could have played better'published at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Italy boss Roberto Mancini: "Great first half, we could've scored more.

    "After the break, we could have played better but that can happen after five months."

  9. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Beaten, but not well beaten. Northern Ireland gave Italy a real game in the second half but the double in the first half did the job for the hosts.

  10. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Ciro Immobile sends Leonardo Spinazzola through but the substitute stabs wide of the goal. Probably should have done better.

  11. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    The 90 minutes are up and there will be just three minutes of time added on.

  12. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    A rare chance in this half for Italy as Ciro Immobile gets in behind, rounds Bailey Peacock-Farrell but puts his shot into the sidenetting.

  13. 'Italy playing with fire'published at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    The defending is ridiculous. The goalkeeper tries to pass it to Verratti and Thompson is right on his back in the 18-yard box. They have controlled the game for 85 minutes but it's like they don't want to keep a clean sheet tonight.

  14. CLOSE!published at 87 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Glorious opportunity to get a goal Northern Ireland have deserved as Steven Davis does well to square the ball across the box but Paddy McNair lashes well over.

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 85 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    More changes for Italy. Matteo Pessina and Vincenzo Grifo replace Manuel Locatelli and Lorenzo Insigne.

  16. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Steven Davis looks to mark his 125th Northern Ireland cap with a goal as he hits a volley through a crowded box but it is straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma.

  17. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    The changes from both sides have disrupted the flow, mainly Northern Ireland's flow because they have been much the better side in this half. Positive signs for their upcoming games.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 78 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland respond with a couple of changes of their own as Ali McCann and Josh Magennis are replaced by Jordan Thompson and Kyle Lafferty.

  19. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 75 mins

    Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland

    Italy make a couple of changes as Emerson and Domenico Berardi are replaced by Leonardo Spinazzola and Federico Chiesa.

    Spinazzola is immediately into the action as he gets a cross in from the left but Paddy McNair deals with it.

  20. Postpublished at 21:15 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

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