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Michael O’Neill was left disappointed by a “severe defeat” as Nick Woltemaid scored an unconventional first international goal. Germany 1-0 win in World Cup qualifying northern ireland In belfast.
Voltmead made the breakthrough in the 31st minute by turning David Raum’s corner with the back of his shoulder as a weakened Germany side left Windsor Park with three points, keeping them top of Group A, tied on slovakia And three more for O’Neill.
A young Northern Ireland once again played with great intent, taking the lead in the game and managing more attempts on goal than their illustrious visitors, but a lack of cutting edge proved costly in O’Neill’s 100th game in charge.
Daniel Ballard’s 14th-minute strike was ruled out for offside by Paddy McNair in the build-up, but it was otherwise all half-chances they could not force, leaving them with all they need to do to finish in the top two of Group A – although they still have a potential safety net through the Nations League.
“We’re disappointed,” O’Neill said. “It was a sad defeat. I thought we lacked a bit of confidence with the ball in the first half. To be honest, Germany overpowered us with their physicality and it was difficult for us to find any kind of rhythm.
“The goal that was disallowed would definitely have helped us at that point, but it’s offside and we really shouldn’t be offside in that situation, so it’s an error on our part.
“The goal we lose is a strange goal, we should have defended the corner better but it went off the player’s shoulder and into our net, so it wasn’t even a header.
“It’s disappointing, but in the second half we were brilliant, we gave everything and we couldn’t score the equaliser…
“It felt like it was a game that was going to be decided by either a special moment or a little bit of an odd goal, and it ended up being decided that way.”
O’Neill and several Northern Ireland players went to speak to referee Jesus Gil Manzano at the end of the match – unhappy that he had only added two minutes of stoppage time during a spell in which Northern Ireland had put Germany past Germany.
“I think they added three (minutes) in the first half,” O’Neal said. “I’m not sure how many substitutions there were, but to be honest, adding two minutes seemed ridiculous to me.
“I’m not going to go into it but we weren’t happy with the referee’s performance on the night, to be honest. I thought he was too fussy. (But) look, all the big decisions were right.”
O’Neill admits Northern Ireland missed out on suspension connor bradley and outlet liverpool There’s no doubt the man would have offered the right – and there was fresh disappointment that Ethan Galbraith picked up a yellow card, ruling him out of next month’s trip to Slovakia.
“I thought it was soft,” O’Neill said. “I’m surprised the referee didn’t book more the way he refereed the game, but that’s another matter.”