Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland: Isaac Price guides Michael O’Neill’s aspect to victory regardless of Brodie Spencer pink card

Isaac Price made the variation at each ends of the pitch as 10-man Northern Ireland clung on for a 1-0 pleasant win over Iceland of their ultimate fit ahead of the World Cup qualifying marketing campaign.

Price lit up a colorless first 1/2 to position Northern Ireland forward, however then needed to head off his personal line because it was a defensive scrap after Brodie Spencer used to be despatched off for denying a goalscoring alternative when Hakon Haraldsson went over underneath a slight contact simply ahead of the hour.

Michael O’Neill would were hoping for a more uncomplicated night time as he seems to be forward to the fall, however will take encouragement from the best way his younger aspect handled adversity to stay a blank sheet.

Before kick-off there used to be a presentation for the just lately retired Steven Davis and Jonny Evans, two contributors of the Euro 2016 squad who each and every earned greater than 100 caps for Northern Ireland.

But there used to be not anything to recognise Peter McParland, regardless of this sport happening best two days after his funeral. McParland, who scored 5 objectives for Northern Ireland on the 1958 World Cup, died ultimate month elderly 91.

O’Neill made 5 adjustments to the aspect that began Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Copenhagen in Denmark, handing a long-awaited debut to Ronan Hale following his transfer from the Republic of Ireland.

He noticed little of the ball in a tepid begin to the fit as neither aspect seemed in a position to growing anything else.

But within the 36th minute Northern Ireland took the lead out of nowhere and Price, who on Monday mentioned how he has better self assurance following his transfer to West Brom in January, used to be the person to ship his 9th global function.

George Saville beat Arnor Ingvi Traustason to the ball, stuck by means of a heavy problem as he did so, and referee Morten Krogh performed benefit. The ball ran to Price, who took a few touches ahead of bending a shot into the ground nook of the web.

Northern Ireland had after all woken up, and in first-half stoppage time Hale used to be inches clear of a debut function, cracking a shot off the crossbar after Trai Hume flicked on Justin Devenny’s pass.

Ethan Galbraith changed Paul Smyth on the damage and used to be a whisker extensive of a primary global function within the 56th minute with a flicked header from Shea Charles’ free-kick.

Then Hale burst into the field and were given past the despairing dive of Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, however his low pass used to be past Price.

The temper modified utterly within the 57th minute. Spencer were given right into a foot race with Haraldsson, and the Iceland skipper went down theatrically underneath the slightest of touches. Krogh in an instant produced a pink card with Spencer the ultimate guy.

Iceland became up the force as Northern Ireland had been compelled to protect their field and temperatures had been raised.

Goalscorer Price was a defensive hero within the 67th minute, clearing Andri Gudjohnsen’s header off the road, ahead of Kristian Hlynsson despatched a great opportunity narrowly extensive.

In stoppage time, goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved out a point-blank header from Isak Johannesson and Northern Ireland hung on.