Northern Ireland 0-1 Switzerland LIVE: Latest World Cup qualifying scores, goals & updates

Northern Ireland vs Switzerland LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest World Cup qualifying scores, goals & updates

TWITTER ROUND-UP

David: Complete this popular phrase: “The referee’s a…” I don’t even watch football and even I knew some of that wasn’t right. Northern Ireland will just have to get that Norn Iron grit in for Sunday!

Neil: Yet another big game where an incompetent referee decides the outcome – missed a clear red card, sees a penalty that never was – awful!

Caroline: That was never a penalty and Switzerland should have been down to 10 men after that tackle on Stuart Dallas. The boys can still do this on Sunday

21:56: Michael O’Neill has given a very impressive post-match interview. The NIR boss was calm, composed and positive about their chances in the second-leg. Full quotes on the way.

NORTHERN IRELAND 0-1 SWITZERLAND – SUMMARY

21:55: Switzerland made the most of a controversial penalty converted by Ricardo Rodriguez to secure a 1-0 win away to Northern Ireland in a pulsating and bruising first leg of their World Cup qualifying playoff.

Northern Ireland were stunned when Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan pointed to the spot after Corry Evans turned his back to block Xherdan Shaqiri’s acrobatic volley at point-blank range.

The ball appeared to hit Evans on the shoulder and, even if it did touch the top of his arm, there seemed no possibility that he could have got out of the way.

Rodriguez ignored the jeering home fans and calmly sent Michael McGovern the wrong way in the 58th minute to put the Swiss in the driving seat in the two-leg tie for a place at next year’s finals in Russia, with the return in Basel on Sunday.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE…

21:50: Away from Belfast, Croatia thrashed Greece 4-1 and have surely booked their spot at the World Cup. Scotland also lost 1-0 to Holland. Quincy Promes got the winner.

TWO ANGRY MEN

21:45: You haven’t seen two any men until you’ve watched Iain Dowie and Gerry Taggart discussing that refereeing decision.

They are absolutely incensed with the penalty, and rightly so. I’d actually say Dowie was one moe bad decision from bursting a blood-vessel.

NORTHERN IRELAND 0-1 SWITZERLAND

FT: Switzerland have a one-goal lead thanks to an extremely controversial second-half penalty which Rodriguez converted. Full reaction to follow.

93: Don’t think it’s happening lads. Lichtsteiner just taken about 90 seconds to take a throw-in.

91: Xhaka doing what Xhaka does best. Concede an unnecessary free-kick. NIR send everyone up but the delivery fails to beat the first man.

FOUR MINUTES ADDED TIME

89: Now what’s going on here? Akanji is sitting on the floor clutching his ribs but I’m not sure anyone touched him. Wasting precious seconds.

86: This referee is useless. Magennis clearly tugs Zuber’s shirt inside the area but nothing’s given. Trying to even things up perhaps.

84: Penalty shout! NIR want, and should have, a spot-kick! The ball strikes Rodriguez’s arm as he looks to usher Magennis out of play. The referee takes a quick look and waves away the appeals.

It was accidental, but absolutely no difference between that and the first penalty.

82: Switzerland can’t get out of their own half. Michael O’Neill’s side are probing but they still haven’t managed to test Sommer between the sticks.

79: I’m getting a sneaky suspicion that this is going to finish 1-0 folks. Switzerland will be happy with a clean sheet and an advantage, while NIR will back themselves to turn around a one-goal deficit.

76: The game feels lost. Neither side looks like they want to commit too many forward for fear of conceding.

Seferovic is replaced by Embolo. Washington comes on for Lafferty, who’s fed off scraps tonight.

73: The hosts have a free-kick in an identical position. Brunt goes for the spectacular this time but it’s drifted over.

70: Free-kick to NIR about 40-yards out. The boys all pile into the box awaiting Brunt’s delivery… waste! Thats an unbelievable chance.

Brunt’s pin-point cross is whipped straight to the unmarked Magennis, who nods miles wide. That might have been the moment folks.

67: Xherdan Shaqiri, squandering chances since 1991. The Stoke winger reaches the byline with the ball but inexplicably passes it straight to McGovern. Should be 2-0.

65: George Saville is on for the hosts, replacing Corry Evans. After a brief spell of attacking NIR have dropped off. Switzerland look comfortable moving it around in midfield and are a threat on the break. A second would leave Michael O’Neill’s side with a mountain to climb.

62: Well that’s certainly provoked a reaction from NIR. They’re pinning Switzerland in their own third but haven’t produced a killer pass to unlock them… yet!

59: Northern Ireland have conceded in back-to-back home games for the first time since October 2015, after a run of keeping eight clean sheets in nine games.

NORTHERN IRELAND 0-1 SWITZERLAND – RODRIGUEZ (PEN)

57: That is NOT a penalty. I can’t believe referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan has given that.

Corry Evans blocks Shaqiri’s volley from less than two-yards away when protecting his face. The referee is the wrong side but gives it anyway.

Ricardo Rodríguez breaks Northern Irish hearts by tucking it away with ease. 

PENALTY TO SWITZERLAND

56: Croatian have pretty-much secured their spot at the World Cup. They go 4-1 up against Greece.

55: How’s he missed?!? You know, it’s starting to feel like one of those night of Switzerland. The ball is served on a plate for Seferovic, but the striker delays his run and can’t prod into an empty net from point-blank range.

53: Shaqiri is guilty of trying to force things here. He’s just shooting from anywhere and he’s sent missed the target every single time.

51: Stuart Dallas is done for the night. He’s replaced by Jamie Ward, who’s played just 40 minutes of club football since returning from injury.

50: The rain is absolutely pelting it down here now. Lichtsteiner crosses for Seferovic, who drifts into an offside position.

48: Looks like Dallas wanted to continue to play through the pain, but after a couple of minutes he’s going to have to come off. The visitors still in command with the ball.

NORTHERN IRELAND 0-0 SWITZERLAND

45: We’re back underway folks, and we’ve barely been going for 30 seconds before Switzerland have a chance to open the scoring.

Brunt completely misreads a floated cross which allows Shaqiri to chest it down before seeing his curling effort clip off the top of the bar.

Northern Ireland vs Switzerland LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest World Cup qualifying scores, goals & updates

NORTHERN IRELAND 0-0 SWITZERLAND

HT: I doubt too many will be surprised with the half-time result. Switzerland have done all the pressing but have nothing to show for it with Northern Ireland defending resiliently.

ONE MINUTE ADDED TIME

45: NIR have pretty well given up as an attacking force towards the end of the half. Lafferty is virtually a holding-midfielder.

43: Lichtsteiner and Shaqiri link up nicely down the right, but Evans anticipates the cutback and clears.

40: Looks like Dallas hasn’t recovered from Schar’s challenge in the opening 20 minutes. He’s bravely trying to continue, but I’ll be shocked if he makes the full 90.

38: There was some brief joy for Greece who pulled one back through Sokratis Papastathopoulos, but Perisic has restored Croatia’s two-goal advantage. 3-1.

36: Oh dear. Lichtsteiner sends a lovely cross into Seferovic, who appears to have a 50p on his head. Very wasteful.

33: The Swiss are showing signs of frustration here. A few late tackles have gone in and that’s led to NIR free-kicks. Not something you want to concede with Evans, McAuley and Lafferty in the box. Brunt delivers… referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan penalises McAuley for a push.

30: Half-an-hour gone and we’re still goalless at Windsor Park. Michael O’Neill will be thoroughly pleased with that.

27: There’s so much movement from Switzerland. Zuber, Seferovic and Shaqiri are causing all sorts of problems. Saying that, McGovern’s only had one shot to save.

24: Things go from bad to worse for Greece, who find themselves 2-0 down against Croatia. Kalinic doubles the hosts advantage with a neat flick at the near post.

23: Switzerland look very dangerous. Rodriguez in particular is a huge threat on the left. He’s bombing forward at every opportunity and has sent some dangerous crosses into the box. NIR are getting sucked deeper and deeper.

20: Croatia have taken the lead against Greece. Luka Modric tucked away a penalty after Watford goalkeeper cleaned out Kalinic. 1-0.

17: The decibel levels rise as Northern Ireland win themselves a corner. Brunt to deliver… over! Jonny Evans won the header but couldn’t keep it down.

Brilliant save! Seferovic peels off McAuley and connects with a lofty diagonal cross, but McGovern managed to tip it wide. Switzerland turning up the heat.

14: Zuber is having some real joy down the left. McLaughlin’s already having a touch night. The ball is cutback for Xhaka, who strikes miles over for the second time this evening.

11: The visitor are seeing plenty of possession, and almost get their reward. Zakaria knocks it down for Dzemaili, whose first-time shot is heroically blocked by Evans. The ball rebounds to Xhaka, who blazes over.

Arsenal fans will be used to hearing the last part of that sentence.

9: Ouch! Fabian Schar is a very lucky boy. The defender just plunged two-footed into Dallas down the left touchline. He’s booked but it could easily have been red. Brunt curls the resulting free-kick into the box but Rodriguez clears.

6: Lafferty, who was chosen ahead of the popular Washington, nods a speculative cross wide. Would gave been up for the Puskas Award if he’d converted from there.

3: Will the Swiss feel psychologically bruised after what happened against Portugal? They only needed a draw to qualify and found themselves on the receiving end of a 2-0 scoreline.

Not quite sure what’s happening here. Zuber forgot to tie his laces and has just spent 90 seconds sorting them out. #MindGames.

NORTHERN IRELAND 0-0 SWITZERLAND

1: Steven Davis was presented with an award for his 100th international cap, but he looked more preoccupied with the biggest game of his life! After a couple of spine-tingling national anthems, we’re underway!

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

19:43: We’re almost underway here in Belfast folks. They are absolutely packed to the rafters inside Windsor Park. There’s thousands of silver and green flags being waved, and the decibel level has to be a health and safety issue…

NORTHERN IRELAND vs SWITZERLAND – STARTING XI

19:40: Quick reminder of tonight’s line-ups folks.

Northern Ireland XI: McGovern, McLaughlin, McAuley, J Evans, Brunt, Norwood, C Evans, Davis, Magennis, Lafferty, Dallas.

Subs: Mannus, Carroll, Hodson, McNair, Hughes, McArdle, Ferguson, Jones, Lund, Ward, Saville, Washington.

Switzerland XI: Sommer, Lichtsteiner, Akanji, Rodriguez, Schar, Xhaka, Zuber, Dzemaili, Zakaria, Shaqiri, Seferovic.

Subs: Hitz, Burki, Lacroix, Elvedi, Lang, Freuler, G Fernandes, Frei, Embolo, E Fernandes, Mehmedi, Gavranovic.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Iain: My wee country could start their journey to the world cup for the first time since I was born by winning against Switzerland today. Come on boys!

Darren: Personally would have went with Washington over Laff, but MO’N has done outstanding to date, have to back his decisions! Need a win. Lets go!

Ben: Despite how far we have come and all we have done the past few years, people are still writing us off – go and prove them wrong lads.

NEW BALLS PLEASE…

19:30: Everyone seen the new ball for the 2018 World Cup in Russia?

Some people are getting quite excited because Adidas have ‘reimagined the iconic Telstar football…’

Apparently the Telstar celebrates its 50th birthday next summer having first been seen in the 1968 European Championships.

Will Steven Davis and the gang be playing with it next summer? Fingers crossed!

A WORD FROM THE BOSS

19:25: Northern Ireland manager manager Michael O’Neill: “I see in this squad an opportunity they don’t want to waste, but equally they’ve done everything so far and I think they will do everything in the next two games to make it a reality.

“These players have experienced a lot of good and bad. The one thing I would say to them is don’t fear the situation, embrace the situation and make sure whatever happens, when you look back there are no regrets.

“We all know the prize is massive and what it means to everyone in Northern Ireland, the players, staff, Irish Football Association, everyone in Northern Ireland.

“Our focus is on how we get through the two games and I see a reassurance in the players and self-belief that has grown over a period of three to four years and put them in this position.”

STAT BOX

*This will be the fifth meeting between these two countries, with Northern Ireland winning twice (D1 L1).

*Both of those wins came at home, most recently in April 1998 thanks to a 10th minute Darren Patterson strike.

*Northern Ireland kept seven clean sheets in World Cup 2018 qualifying; only England (8) managed more.

THE OPPOSITION

19:15: Switzerland are pretty unlucky to be in this situation.

They had won all nine of their qualifiers before visiting Portugal in the final group game last month, when a 2-0 win for the Euro 2016 champions ensured they sealed top spot on goal difference.

The sometimes-maligned Granit Xhaka, who has the most touches in the Premier League this season, is pivotal to his country’s fortunes while Stoke fans know Shaqiri is capable of moments of brilliance.

Northern Irish boss Michael O’Neill also needs to worry about Lichtsteiner and Rodriguez, both of whom love to push on.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Cathay: Hopefully the North can get off to a good start tonight and the South can follow suit on Saturday, be unreal if both could make it!

Andy: Never been more nervous than I am tonight! Let’s get it done #GAWA

Walsh: Good luck tonight, Northern Ireland. You’ve already done the Country proud. Make us even more so. 

DAVIS MAKES HISTORY

19:10: Captain Steven Davis makes his 100th international appearance tonight.

The Southampton midfielder will become just the third centurion in the nation’s history, following in the footsteps of Pat Jennings and Aaron Hughes.

The 32-year-old has coveted little fanfare ahead of the landmark and has insisted the focus should be on the game itself.

But I guess the best way for Northern Ireland’s talisman to mark the occasion would be to deliver a big performance on a grand stage.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE…

19:05: Eight teams are vying for the four final places from the European section. Arguably the star attraction are four-time World Cup winners Italy, who must overcome a tough Sweden side to qualify after being in the same group as Spain.

The other match being played tonight is between Croatia and Greece. I’ll keep you updated with everything from the Stadion Maksimir.

TEAM NEWS

19:00: As expected, captain Steven Davis makes his 100th international appearance.

West Brom supporters should be out in force with Chris Brunt, Jonny Evans and Gareth McAuley in the starting XI.

Elsewhere Michael O’Neill opts for Kyle Lafferty instead of Conor Washington, and that’s the only change from the 1-0 defeat to Norway last month.

As for Switzerland, well all the usual suspects are starting except Valon Behrami, who’s replaced by Denis Zakaria.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka also start in Belfast.

NORTHERN IRELAND vs SWITZERLAND – STARTING XI

18:55: Drum roll please… here’s tonight’s line-ups folks.

Northern Ireland XI: McGovern, McLaughlin, McAuley, J Evans, Brunt, Norwood, C Evans, Davis, Magennis, Lafferty, Dallas.

Subs: Mannus, Carroll, Hodson, McNair, Hughes, McArdle, Ferguson, Jones, Lund, Ward, Saville, Washington.

Switzerland XI: Sommer, Lichtsteiner, Akanji, Rodriguez, Schar, Xhaka, Zuber, Dzemaili, Zakaria, Shaqiri, Seferovic.

Subs: Hitz, Burki, Lacroix, Elvedi, Lang, Freuler, G Fernandes, Frei, Embolo, E Fernandes, Mehmedi, Gavranovic.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Carl Frampton: The biggest night of football Windsor Park has seen in decades. Come on the boys!!!

Josh: Not long until kick off in one of the biggest nights in Our Wee Country’s football history. Lets have the swiss!

Andrew: Have a good feeling about tonight; looking forward to another memorable night at Windsor. 

HAVE YOUR SAY

18:50: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS…

18:45: Northern Ireland have never been in a play-off scenario before.

They also lack the same continental club experience that Switzerland’s players boast with the two-legged format.

But being at home first may suit Michael O’Neill’s side because their strengths suggest they would feel more comfortable defending a lead on their travels than attempting to overturn one at home.

You may have guessed this is all conjecture, and that I’m not a professional manager. Although I did take San Marino to the World Cup finals in Football Manager ’14…

EVENING

18:40: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup 2018 play-off first-leg between Northern Ireland and Switzerland.

Well, who on earth thought we would be here at the beginning of the qualifying process?!

I’ll admit that I was extremely pessimistic when I saw Germany, Northern Ireland, Czech Republic and Norway bundled into Group C.

But Michael O’Neill and his odds-defying side have cleared virtually every hurdle, and find themselves on the brink of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Games don’t come much bigger than this.