‘PK’ scores twice while NI U-19 draw with Slovenia
FORMER Coleraine midfielder Patrick Kelly scored twice as Northern Ireland Under-19s began their latest European Under-19 Championship qualifying run with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Slovenia Under-19s, according to the IFA website .
Gerard Lyttle’s side are in Holland this week competing in Group 13 of the 2022-23 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round.
And in their first match of the four-team mini-tournament, against Slovenia U19 tonight in Assen, they had victory in their hands but fell at the final hurdle. They were leading 2:1 until the 90th minute, when Slovenia equalized with a stunning free kick.
Midfielder Patrick Kelly, who moved from Coleraine to West Ham United in the summer, was a goal-scoring hero with a double, and the Northern Irish defense was also heroic, as the Slovenians attacked at every opportunity. In the match, Slovenia had 18 attempts on goal, while Northern Ireland had seven.
Slovenia was faster than Northern Ireland at Sportpark Marsdijk.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Josh Clark was tested by midfielder Tom Kljun after six minutes but was equal to his effort.
Midfielder Charlie Lindsay then took a free-kick which defender Ruairi McConville headed wide before Kljun unleashed another shot which was saved by Clarke.
Slovenian Mitja Ilenič was blocked before Kelly forced a save from Slovenian goalkeeper Nejco Dermastija.
In the 29th minute, Clarke had to be on his toes again to keep out Niko Kasal’s attack. Callum Marshall’s shot was saved by Dermastia.
He scored Northern Ireland’s first goal in the 33rd minute. Lindsay fired in a corner which was greeted by captain Michael Forbes. The defender cleared a header off the line but Kelly volleyed the loose ball through a sea of bodies to open the scoring.
The beak shot past the gate, and then Lindsay tested Demasti again.
The next opportunity for Northern Ireland brought goal number two. Lindsay produced a sweet chip that the Slovenian goalkeeper managed to push over the top. From the ensuing corner, Matty Carson picked out Kelly at the front post and he volleyed over again.
Slovenia made strong progress towards the end of the first half. First, the busy Kljun was blocked, and then Clarke made an excellent save from Nino Milić.
Immediately after the break, Kelly nearly completed his hat-trick. He played a great one-two with Marshall and was unlucky to see his momentum come back off the inside of the post.
That break seemed to come to life in Slovenia as Ilenič missed a couple of chances and Nejc Klašnja and Marcel Lorber came close.
Slovenia continued to push forward, and Klašnja and Milić shot far from the post.
They scored in the 76th minute when defender Srdan Kuzmic shot from a corner.
A minute later, Slovenian reserve player Jaka Potočnik shot past the goal, and his team was looking for an equaliser.
Towards the end of the game, Forbes conceded a free kick for a foul on Slovenian reserve player Aleks Ristic.
The second reserve player Potočnik stepped into the open space and curled the ball perfectly into the top corner to make it 2-2. At the home of the amateur football club Achilles 1894, it was a real mess.
Right at the end of the game, another reserve player, Luka Turudija, had a chance to win for Slovenia, but his effort went wide.
Next up for Northern Ireland U19s is a meeting with tournament hosts the Netherlands at the same venue on Saturday (September 24, 2pm UK time) and their final group game is against Moldova, again at Sportpark Marsdijk, next Tuesday (September 27, 6.30pm). . British time). In the second match of the group this evening, the Dutch beat the Moldovans 2:0.
Northern Ireland U19: Josh Clarke, Brodie Spencer, Matthew Carson, Ruairi McConville, Michael Forbes (capt), Patrick Kelly, Charlie Lindsay, Makenzie Kirk, Callum Marshall, Conor Scannell, Darren Robinson. Subs: (used) Sam Glenfield, Aaron Wightman; (not used) Stephen McMullan (GK), Dylan Sloan, Josh Roney, Daithi McCallion, Lewis Trickett, Rio Morgan, Reece Evans.
Slovenia U19: Nejc Dermastija, Srdan Kuzmič (captain), Nino Milič, Kristjan Trdin, Nejc Klašnja, Mitja Ilenič, Marcel Lorber, Tom Kljun, Niko Kasalo, Gašper Černe, Beno Selan. Reserves: Lukas Tomažič (GK), Matjaž Pahić, Anel Zulić, Jaka Potočnik, Aleks Risticč, Edvin Krupič, Tom Kerezović, Luka Turudija, Gal Puconja.