Missed chances leave Northern Ireland on Nations League brink
Defeat in Bosnia means Michael O'Neill's side are staring at relegation
Northern Ireland slumped to their third straight Nations League defeat after losing 2-0 in Sarajevo to Bosnia last night (Monday).
Michael O’Neill’s side stay bottom without a single point - and are now on the brink of relegation to the third tier.
It was another night of missed chances with sub Gavin Whyte (main pic) hitting the woodwork twice and George Saville (below) striking the post.
Bosnian captain – the Roma striker, Edin Dzeko – was much more clinical in front of goal, scoring a brace for his side who top the group.
His opener came in the 27th minute when young Jamal Lewis slipped and lost the ball in his own area and the second arrived in the 73rd minute when Dzeko was allowed to peel off into space before firing home.
Northern Ireland have not scored an away goal in six games.
O’Neill said there was “disappointment” and “frustration.”
“We had two good chances to go ahead and possibly should have been one or two ahead,” he said.
“Obviously the first goal is a bad mistake in a bad area from a young player. Ultimately when you have a player like Dzeko he will punish you and he did.
“We had chances to go 1-1 and we don't take them, it was incredible we didn't take them.
”And Dzeko punished us again when we were trying to push forward.''
They were the 54th and 55th international goals of Dzeko's career - coming as the 32-year-old earned his 97th cap.
O'Neill could only look on with envy as the former Manchester City striker sent Bosnia top of the group with three wins from three.
“I think if you look at ourselves, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, we're all in search of that player who can unlock the game for you and with experience at international level,'' he said.
“We're looking at a player tonight who has scored over 50 international goals in just under 100 appearances. That tells you everything you need to know.
“We don't have a player who plays at that level of the game. We can't buy one. He has to come from Northern Ireland or have a blood line to Northern Ireland so we have to persevere.''
The frustration felt by Northern Ireland at the final whistle was similar to the mood after the reverse fixture at Windsor Park last month - a game they dominated only to lose 2-1 following defensive errors.
It was a special night, however, for one Northern Ireland player – with Corry Evans (pictured above with brother Jonny) earning his 50th cap and was handed the captain’s armband to mark the occasion.