Why Michael O’Neill’s Side Should Be Fuming After This Belarus Blunder

Northern Ireland’s frustrating draw against Belarus is likely to be a bitter pill to swallow for Michael O’Neill’s side as they failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and had two goals ruled out in the process.

Two goals that could have easily swung the momentum of the match in their favor were disallowed by the officials, which will undoubtedly be a major talking point for Northern Ireland as they assess their performance.

The attacking duo of Northern Ireland found themselves close to breaking the deadlock in the first half but saw the post deny them what seemed like a certain goal. While the offense attempted to salvage a few more opportunities, the side ultimately could not get past this close call.

As they move forward, O’Neill’s side must be prepared to put away chances when they arise, rather than faltering on the finish. Of course, not everything should be taken away from the outing, and with such difficult openings and hard hits, they showed their dedication and spirit in trying to win the match.

Nonetheless, despite this positive approach, the fact remains that Northern Ireland walked away without the desired outcome - securing a critical three points. Now, this tough draw adds a mountain to climb for O’Neill’s men as they seek to gain the momentum required for push through the current test.