NI's losing streak continues

Greece 1 N Ireland 0

Sammy McIlroy was forced to look on as Greece began to party through the night after clinching a place in the finals of the European Championship for only the second time in their history with a narrow victory.

But Northern Ireland manager McIlroy would have been proud of his team, who refused to cave in.

The turning point came in the 69th minute when George McCartney was sent off and Vassilis Tsartas scored the winner from the penalty spot.

The Northern Ireland team got a taste of what to expect when they came out at the Panathinaikos arena for the national anthems.

The Greek fans lit flares and one was thrown onto the pitch. It was hastily cleared away by stewards.

It was widely expected that David Healy would start up front but instead Gillespie was given that role with the Preston player on the right wing.

Gillespie got on the end of a long ball from Chris Baird in the first minute but his header failed to test goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis.

Angelos Charisteas then found space in the area after Giorgos Seitaridis launched it forward, only to stray offside.

Greece pushed forward again and Zissis Vryzas and Paraskevas Antzas were both off target in quick succession.

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor picked up a yellow card for time wasting – after only 12 minutes. The Birmingham shot-stopper could hardly believe it.

But this was a difficult time for Northern Ireland as the home side went in search of the breakthrough.

Taylor had to look alert in the 23rd minute to turn away a powerful shot from Charisteas.

Northern Ireland were being forced on the back foot and Taylor got down quickly 10 minutes later to smother a shot from Seitaridis.

However Gillespie nearly ended Northern Ireland’s goal drought when his header landed on the roof of the net following a corner from Peter Kennedy.

With Spain leading in Armenia there was a little bit of anxiety among the home side.

That suited Northern Ireland who won a succession of free kicks and corners.

Seitaridis went on another surging run but the finish did not match his ambition as Taylor saved comfortably.

Then Taylor did well to turn away a shot from Tsartas just before the half-time break.

Newcastle central defender Nikos Dabizas was replaced at half-time in the Greece line-up by Stelios Venetidis.

Danny Griffin tried to release Gillespie in the 47th minute but the goalkeeper raced out to avert the danger.

Play broke down the other end and Vryzas got away in the area only to be crowded out.

Then a shot from Tsartas took a deflection, leaving Taylor looking on anxiously as the ball cleared the crossbar.

Northern Ireland hit back and Michael Hughes saw his shot blocked after Griffin curled in a free kick.

There was another moment of danger for Northern Ireland in the 61st minute when Bolton winger Stelios Giannakopoulos swung in a dangerous cross.

Chris Baird turned it away at the back post – but it was a close run thing.

Two minutes later Northern Ireland manager McIlroy took off Gillespie and replaced him with Smith.

McCartney, who had picked up a yellow card earlier, was sent off in the 69th minute after bringing down Vryzas in the penalty area.

He was given a straight red and Tsartas kept his cool to score from the spot and put Greece ahead.

Smith squandered a glorious chance to equalise in the 79th minute when he blazed a shot over after Traianos Dellas slipped.

Giannakopolous almost added a second for Greece in the 85th minute, his shot hitting the top of the crossbar.

But Greece got the win they wanted while McIlroy’s men finished the campaign without a win – and without a goal in 1,242 minutes.