Chris Brunt own goal set to scupper Northern Ireland's hopes of being seeded
Posted Monday, October 09, 2017 by PA
Northern Ireland's joy at reaching the play-offs was tempered by Chris Brunt's wild own goal in Norway ensuring the likes of Portugal could stand between them and a place in Russia next summer.
Michael O'Neill's players knew their place in November's play-offs was guaranteed less than an hour before kick-off in Oslo as Scotland's draw with Slovenia guaranteed the Northern Irish one of the play-off berths on offer.
A victory over Norway was still important if they wanted to stand a chance of being seeded for that draw, yet Brunt's bizarre own goal 19 minutes from time, in which he hacked an attempted left-footed clearance into his net, essentially scuppered those hopes as they lost 1-0.
- Tag:
Photos
More»
Rhian Sugden's sexiest pictures
Saturday April 20 2024
Fans love Apollonia as she poses in tiny denim shirts
Saturday April 20 2024
Eugenie Bouchard sends fans wild in barely-there bikini
Friday April 19 2024
Your Say