Summary

  • Group H: Northern Ireland 3-0 San Marino (F/T)

  • Paul Smyth gives N Ireland an early lead

  • Josh Magennis doubles the advantage on 11 minutes

  • Conor McMenamin comes off the bench to score the third

  • NI beat San Marino 2-0 in their last meeting in March

  1. YELLOW CARDpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Conor Washington almost had the briefest of cameo appearances.

    Moments after entering the fray a poor challenge on Lorenzo Lazzari goes to a VAR review.

    Replays suggest that Washington stamped on the midfielder, but the referee gives him a yellow card, much to the relief of the majority inside Windsor Park.

  2. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    A triple change for Northern Ireland as Michael O'Neill looks to add a greater attacking threat after a lull in the game.

    Youngsters Isaac Price and Callum Marshall are on along with Conor Washington.

    Jonny Evans, Josh Magennis and the star of today Paul Smyth depart after a solid afternoon.

    Daniel Ballard takes the captain's armband.

  3. 'This has been awful'published at 15:23 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

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

    We have got to start hitting the front men quicker, this has been awful.

    This is the best period of the game San Marino have had.

  4. Inches awaypublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Rebecca Keegan
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    How has that not gone in?!

    Fans had already started cheering before that ball went agonisingly wide from Dale Taylor

    Dale TaylorImage source, Pacemaker Press
  5. CLOSE!published at 15:21 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Dale Taylor should have added a third for for Northern Ireland.

    Josh Magennis slips the ball through to the teenager, and with just the goalkeeper to beat, he drags his low shot wide.

    The flag stayed down, but Taylor lacked the composure to score his first goal for his country.

    Dale TaylorImage source, Pacemaker Press
  6. 'I would be livid'published at 15:17 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Sport NI

    I would be livid in terms of why we are not moving the ball quicker, why it's not one or two touches and why we aren't exposing them down the flanks.

    When you score goals as easily as we scored goals, then the opportunity is there for you to score more.

  7. Postpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Paul Smyth weaves his way through a number of challenges before being fouled by Lorenzo Capicchioni.

    Paddy McNair takes the free-kick and plays in an inviting delivery, with Dale Taylor at the back post heading over the crossbar.

  8. Wholesome contentpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Paul Smyth gave his jacket to a young mascot ahead of kick-off in a cold Windsor Park.

    He wasn't quite as nice to San Marino in that first half and he will hope to continue to be a thorn in their side as Northern Ireland look for a third goal.

    Northern Ireland’s Paul Smyth gives a mascot his jacketImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland’s Paul Smyth gives a mascot his jacket

  9. 'Intensity needs to go up'published at 15:09 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Warren Feeney
    Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio Ulster

    The intensity needs to go up and every time the ball goes wide, they need to get it into the box.

  10. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Matteo Vitaioli kicks off the second half for San Marino, can Northern Ireland add to their advantage?

  11. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Simone Franciosi goes off at the break to be replaced by Alessandro D-Addario.

  12. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Sport NI

    Michael will be delighted being 2-0 up, but I don't think he'll be happy with the overall performance.

    I think when you score early there's a relief and with relief comes lethargy and a lack of intensity, but I'm surprised Jonny hasn't instilled a greater tempo into the game.

  13. Strong first half performancepublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Rebecca Keegan
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    A strong first half performance from Northern Ireland has fans on their feet as the half-time whistle goes.

    They will be hoping for more of the same in the second half.

    Half-timeImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    The half-time whistle goes

  14. 'Really need an injection of pace'published at 14:59 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

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

    Overall, Thompson has had a great game and I thought Smyth has had a good game on the wing. The rest of the team have done none nothing wrong, but we really need a little bit of an injection of pace.

    Try and get the crowd going, try to play with a little bit more tempo and we will score more goals.

  15. HALF-TIMEpublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    A positive first half for Northern Ireland, with early goals from Paul Smyth and Josh Magennis gives Michael O'Neill's side a comfortable advantage at the break.

    Smyth and Dale Taylor also had goals ruled out for offside, with Northern Ireland dominating the contest at Windsor Park.

    Smyth has been Northern Ireland's best player so far, causing San Marino all sorts of problems with his direct running and off the ball movement.

    The hosts will be keen to add to the score line in the second half and create more clear cut chances.

    HT score in Windsor ParkImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    HT score in Windsor Park

  16. CLOSE!published at 14:53 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    A deep corner falls to Daniel Ballard at the back post, and he heads the ball back in towards Paul Smyth.

    The ball hits the QPR forward before deflecting off Simone Franciosi and going behind.

    Smyth could have had a first half hat-trick!

  17. 'Players seem to be reluctant'published at 14:50 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

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

    The players seem to be reluctant to take a chance. Especially when in the final third, but if there was ever a game to take chances in, this is it.

  18. Postpublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill will be pleased what he has seen with his side in this first period as we enter four minutes of additional time in the pouring rain in Belfast.

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'NeillImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill

  19. Postpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

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

    Thompson, Lewis and Taylor on that left hand side are destroying them.

    Jamal LewisImage source, Pacemaker Press
  20. YELLOW CARDpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 14 October 2023

    Northern Ireland 2-0 San Marino

    Jamal Lewis picks up the first yellow card of the game for catching Simone Franciosi with a late lunge.