Match Reports - Under 16 Schools
Sat, 23 Feb 2008Finland v. Northern Ireland
| Finland Nikolai Alho (57 mins) |
1-1 | Northern Ireland John Gorman (11 mins) |
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Finland made a bright start, determined to avenge a 3-1 defeat two days earlier, and should have gone in front after only 45 seconds.
Kevin Mombilo sliced through the Northern Ireland rearguard and laid the ball into the path of Tim Vayrynen but with the goal at his mercy the striker placed his shot wide of the upright.
The home team continued to press forward and Juho-Teppo Berg fired over the bar under pressure from Robbie Hume.
Against the run of play Northern Ireland opened the scoring after 11 minutes. John Gorman made a powerful run down the right before cutting inside and planting a left foot shot into the corner of the net.
This goal settled the visitors and they began to dominate. Josh Carson combined well with Hume to send the full back away down the wing but his cross went wide. Then Liam Bagnall intercepted a pass inside his own half and exchanged passes with Michael Smith before sending a 20 yard lob just over the bar. Dean McCullough also saw another lob just clear the bar.
A great piece of individual skill by Smith set up a golden opportunity. The striker wriggled past two defenders and pulled the ball back to Jonathan Cosgrove who shot straight at the keeper from 8 yards .
On the restart Finland pushed forward and drew level after 57 minutes with a brilliant individual effort. Nikolai Alho cut in from the left, rounded Cosgrove and Matthew King and calmly placed the ball past Wayne Drummond and just inside the far post.
In the final minute Northern Ireland went close to snatching another win. Patrick McEleney made a mazy run down the left wing and found Kyle Friel with a deep cross. The winger's volley rebounded off the upright to McEleney but from 10 yards out he blazed over.
