Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s side slump to fourth straight defeat in Euro 2024 qualifying

Northern Ireland fell to a fourth straight defeat of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign as they were beaten 4-2 by Slovenia at the Stozice Stadium.

Michael O’Neill’s side came into this game lacking in confidence after a morale-deflating loss at the hands of Kazakhstan back in June, and their character was called into question once more as the hosts took an early lead through Andraz Sporar on three minutes.

Jonny Evans, the Manchester United centre-back, was caught too high with his defensive partner, another former Red Devil, Paddy McNair, with neither able to tidy up the mess that Shea Charles had left, with his loose touch enabling a turnover in midfield.

Sporar then sped away into the open space ahead of him, bearing down on Bailey Peacock-Farrell with menace. The Panathinaikos striker made no mistake, slotting into the far corner.

Within four minutes, however, the visitors were level. Conor McMenamin, a thorn in the side of Erik Janza on the Slovenia left, drove enthusiastically to the byline, digging out a cross that was attacked by Dion Charles at the front post. The ball evaded the striker, but was met by the onrushing Matthew Kennedy, the left-winger, whose effort was brilliantly saved by Jan Oblak, who then had no chance with Isaac Price’s rebound, with the 19-year-old notching his first international goal at the far post.

For 10 minutes, O’Neill’s men stood firm, but it took a wicked deflection to put them behind once more. Petar Stojanovic, the Sampdoria right-back playing on the right of the Slovenian midfield four this evening, was found by David Brekalo with a high ball in behind Ciaron Brown, the visiting left-back. Brown lost his footing at the crucial moment to let Stojanovic drive into the box, and a cruel ricochet off the back-pedalling Evans saw the ball bounce beyond the wrong-footed Peacock-Farrell to restore Matjaz Kek’s side’s advantage.

Brown being forced off with an injury rubbed salt in the visitors’ wounds, and their misery was further compounded by Benjamin Sesko, who finally got his goal three minutes before the break.

The RB Leipzig striker thought he had made it 3-1 six minutes prior as he tapped home a Stojanovic cross, finding himself unmarked in the Northern Irish six-yard box, but he was ruled offside.

He exacted his revenge soon after, as he demonstrated his complete skill-set to score his side’s third. Adam Cerin fired a ball into the youngster’s feet, with Sesko pinning his marker, spinning on a sixpence, shifting the ball onto his left, and slotting an arrowed strike into the far corner, beyond the desperate clasp of Peacock-Farrell.

As Michael O’Neill threw on the experience of Conor Washington and the physicality of Josh Magennis at half-time, neither would have the desired impact as Kek’s side resumed the ascendancy.

Sporar was a lick of paint away from his second as he hit the crossbar on 50 minutes after some sumptuous link-up from Sesko – a silky backheel – and Jan Mlakar down the left.

Evans brought Northern Ireland within one just three minutes later, as a long ball pumped forward fell at the feet of the captain. The Manchester United man Cruyff turned before striking, and the shot looped off the sliding Jaka Bijol and over Oblak to cut the deficit.

However, just three minutes after that, the visitors were punished for a lapse in concentration, with Trai Hume asleep at the back. Sporar span in behind him, with Sesko sliding a threaded through ball down the middle, and the former Middlesbrough man had the composure to round Peacock-Farrell and roll into the unguarded net.

Another defeat for the Northern Irish, who remain in fifth in Group H, and their chances of reaching even the Euro 2024 play-off round have diminished. Slovenia, meanwhile, move into serious contention in third, level on points with second-placed Denmark and two off Finland in top spot.

That’s what happens when you come up against top-quality strikers.

This encounter lacked any real clear-cut opportunities, but those that fell to Slovenia, they took, with Sporar and Sesko showing their ruthlessness.

Northern Ireland, on the other hand, had their flurry of chances in the dying embers of the match to reignite their spark and set up a grandstand finish, but that crucial finishing touch was lacking.

Magennis went close with a tame header, while McMenamin’s powerful effort after a dart infield from the left was parried by Oblak.

Paul Smyth, another lively substitute, had an air-shot that he should have converted from close range following a corner, but his failure to connect gave Oblak another easy take as Northern Ireland’s profligacy problems persist.

A goal and an assist, all in a night’s work.

Sporar was the two-goal hero, but Sesko showcased why he is touted as the next big thing.

Pace, physicality, a delicate first touch, combined with his eye for goal – RB Leipzig have themselves a superstar in the making.

Slovenia: Oblak 6, Karnicnik 6, Brekalo 6, Bijol 6, Janza 5, Stojanovic 7, Cerin 6, Elsnik 6, Mlakar 6, Sproar 8, Sesko 8. Subs: Kurtic 6, Vipotnik 6, Balkovec 6, Lovric 6.

N. Ireland: P-Farrell 6, McNair 6, Evans 6, Brown 5, Hume 6, Charles 6, Saville 5, Kennedy 6, Price 6, Charles 6, McMenamin 7. Subs: Cathcart 5, Magennis 6, Washington 6, McCann 6, Smyth 7.

3′: GOAL! Slovenia are ahead already, and it’s Andraz Sporar! Shea Charles doesn’t win the loose ball, McNair and Evans are caught in midfield, and Sporar breaks into the open space left in behind, bearing down on goal, before slotting calmly beyond Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

7′: GOAL! They’re level, and it’s Isaac Price! That didn’t take long, and they’ve done it, with McMenamin crossing well down the right, as Dion Charles attacks the front post. The ball misses him, Kennedy makes contact and forces a remarkable save from Oblak, but Price follows in to equalise!

18′: GOAL! Slovenia are ahead once more, and it’s Stojanovic! Stemming from Brown’s loose touch, the ball is switched to the onrushing Stojanovic down the right, Brown loses his footing as the midfielder advances into the box, and his cross is deflected inside the near post by Jonny Evans!

36′: NO GOAL! Slovenia and Sesko think they’re two ahead, as the hosts slice through the Northern Ireland defence, with Stojanovic sliding a low cross in, and Sesko, unmarked, slots home, but the assistant on the far side has his flag up.

42′: GOAL! This time, it’s three, and Sesko has his goal! Given too much time to turn, the Leipzig striker swivels on a sixpence as the ball is flashed into him by Cerin. He manoeuvres it onto his left, and slides an effort into the far corner beyond the clasp of Peacock-Farrell.

50′: OFF THE BAR! Slovenia are all over the Northern Irish, and Sesko shows some lovely skill to link play down the left. Mlakar crosses, and Sporar running onto it crashes the crossbar!

53′: GOAL! Jonny Evans has scored, and Northern Ireland have one back! It’s pumped in, and falls for the visiting captain. He Cruyff turns, and strikes, and it deflects and loops over Oblak for 3-2!

56′: GOAL! Well, that didn’t last long. Northern Ireland’s two-goal deficit is reinstalled, and Sporar has his brace. He darts in behind Hume, and Sesko threads a wonderful ball down the middle for his strike partner to chase. He shows great composure to round Peacock-Farrell and roll into the unguarded net.

• Isaac Price scored his first goal for Northern Ireland with his seventh-minute equaliser here.
• Jonny Evans was celebrating 17 years of playing international football in this match, with his debut coming against Spain on September 6, 2006.