Summary

  • Jonny Evans scores equaliser in 95th minute

  • Northern Ireland still looking for first point in Nations League

  • Suffered 3-2 loss against Kosovo last time out

  1. Over and outpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Well, the curtain is finally drawn on June's Nations League fixtures.

    You can read Mark Sterling's report from an eventful afternoon at Windsor Park here.

    If you can face it, you can watch highlights at 22:30 BST on BBC One NI.

    With the greatest of respect to the Nations League, thank goodness this set of fixtures are over.

  2. Postpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Neil Lennon
    Former Celtic midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I know Ian said before that he wanted four wins out of four but that has proved to be very ambitious. I get that he is trying to blood young players but I don't think he has found the balance yet between experience and the young players. The formation isn't working and I don't think he is getting the best out of the better players at his disposal in terms of the overall performances. In saying that, I don't think a change is needed at this time, he needs more time.

  3. Postpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Gerry Taggart
    Ex-Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio 5 live

    Its a difficult period for Baraclough as a manager to get the performances and the results that people expect, especially at home where it hasn't happened. Only certain people in the IFA will know if he is the right man for the job and Baraclough isn't going to say any different because he is desperate to stay in the job.

  4. Postpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Ian Baraclough: I know there are some sensationalists and I know they will want change at the drop of a hat. I heard boos for Gareth Southgate even though there was no crowd there. I think it is today's society at times, you are frustrated and you don't get a win so you boo.

  5. Postpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Ian Baraclough: People can boo all they like. I'm not going unless I'm told and that is up to somebody else to make that decision. I'm proud of what the players have produced today and over the four games. Players that didn't know each other coming together and I'll sit back and look at it in the cold light of day and we have seen some real shining lights coming through over the last four games. I'm excited for the future and what these players can produce.

    There were audible boos as the Northern Ireland manager was conducting this interview with the BBC.

  6. Postpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough: I don't think it was the majority. I think most people know what we are trying and where we are going. I've thick skin and we knew we would have some rocky periods as well. For me, there is a concentration on working with those younger players and the group to get better, and making sure come September and the Euros we are in a position to go and win games like that.

  7. Postpublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough: I'm obviously disappointed no to come away with a win. It's a game I thought we were in the ascendancy for the majority of and I think it is a lesson for some of the younger players in the squad that when you have got the opponent by the throat and you are creating chances you have to take those chances and make sure you are not chasing a 2-0 deficit rather than a 2-0 lead.

  8. Postpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    We'll have some reaction from the NI camp. Stay tuned!

  9. Postpublished at 16:11 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyrpus

    Tommy Wright
    Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper on Radio Ulster

    The second goal drained a lot of the players but the changes made a difference, Thompson was great. The thing I like about Thompson is that he is always trying to play forward and not keep possession for the sake of it.

  10. Postpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Some stats that aren't overly pleasant reading.

    Cyprus scored as many away goals against Northern Ireland as they did in their previous eight away games in the Uefa Nations League combined (2).

    Northern Ireland have won just one of their last 14 home matches in all competitions (D6 L7), a 1-0 win over Lithuania in November 2021.

    Northern Ireland have conceded in each of their seven home games in the UEFA Nations League and are one of three sides yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the competition.

  11. Postpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Gerry Taggart
    Ex-Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio 5 live

    Going two goals behind to a nation like Cyprus, it's almost soul destroying. Yes, there has to be credit for getting back into it but you have to analyse the whole 90 minutes, and if you do that you have to say it wasn't good enough.

  12. Postpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

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

    The scary thing is usually our defence is solid, but we have been wide open and we will be found out by better sides. Does the fact we have come back and scored two goals paper over the cracks? I'm not so sure the players looked lost out there at times.

  13. Postpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Neil Lennon
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    You could see the last 20 minutes as a positive. It wasn't through any great play, it was through hope rather than expectation. It wasn't a great performance by any means.

  14. Postpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    FT: Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    The players applaud the Green and White Army, who were superb all afternoon from start to finish.

  15. Postpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

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

    I have to give the players some credit, I didn't see that performance coming after the first half. With twenty minutes to go they just found something, the substitutes did well, Thompson and Bradley impressed.

  16. Postpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    There's a mixture of boos and cheers at the whistle.

    Never thought we would be cheering an injury-time equaliser at home to Cyprus, but here we are. It's a funny time to be a Northern Ireland fan

    Two defeats, two draws. Northern Ireland's Nations League wait goes on.

  17. FULL-TIMEpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    There goes the full-time whistle!

  18. Postpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Niall McGinn lashes an effort wide and that might be that.

  19. DISALLOWED GOALpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus

    Oh my word! Cyprus thought they had won it but Dimitris Christofi was flagged offside after sticking the ball in the back of the net.

    The drama!

  20. goal

    GOAL - Northern Ireland 2-2 Cypruspublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 12 June 2022

    Jonny Evans (95 mins)

    GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Jonny Evans sticks out a leg and it just about crosses the line after hitting the bar.