Northern Ireland 1 - 1 Morocco

Northern Ireland   1 - 1   Morocco

Younes Belhanda is challenged by Northern Ireland debutant Adam Barton

By Lyle Jackson

Rory Patterson grabbed a draw for Northern Ireland against Morocco with an 86th-minute penalty at Windsor Park.

Nigel Worthington's side looked to be heading for defeat when defender Rachid Soulaimani was adjudged to have hauled down Josh McQuoid in the goalmouth.

Morocco had been gifted the lead in the 55th minute by a mistake by substitute goalkeeper Alan Blayney.

Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh scored when Blayney's attempted clearance rebounded off the Moroccan and into the net.

The late equaliser should give manager Nigel Worthington reason for optimism after what seemed like being a disappointing night.

A string of withdrawals forced Worthington to make eight changes from the side which laboured to a draw in the Faroe Islands.

Preston midfielder Adam Barton, who is also eligible for England, was handed a debut from the start in the hope he could be persuaded to pledge his allegiance full-time.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington says his players stuck to their task well in the friendly draw with Morocco

The under-strength hosts made a bright opening to the international friendly, but Morocco had the best chances of the opening 45 minutes.

Chakib Benzoukane cut inside to force keeper Jonathan Tuffey to touch the shot away for a corner.

Aaron Hughes headed away from the set-piece but Kharja Houssine fired a shot back in which flew over the bar.

The best chance of the half fell to Nancy midfielder Youssef Hadji who weakly shot straight at Tuffey.

Blayney, Michael O'Connor, McQuoid and Rory McArdle came on as substitutes as Northern Ireland boss Worthington made changes at half-time.

The breakthrough goal may have been a disaster for keeper Blayney as he tried to control and clear McArdle's backpass, but made he made some amends soon afterwards by tipping Adil Hermach's long-range effort on to the bar.

Northern Ireland did not give up and were rewarded with Plymouth forward Patterson's late penalty.

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Wednesday, 17 November 2010

International Match

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Northern Ireland	1-1	Morocco	FT
(HT 0-0)
Patterson (pen) 86		Chamakh 55

Northern Ireland

• 01 Tuffey (Alan Blayney 46)
• 02 Hodson
• 03 McGivern (Coates 62)
• 05 Evans
• 18 Hughes (McArdle 46)
• 06 Barton
• 07 McGinn (Magennis 69)
• 08 McCourt (O'Connor 46)
• 09 Patterson
• 10 John Gorman
• 11 Brunt (McQuoid 47)

Substitutes

• 12 Alan Blayney,
• 13 McArdle,
• 17 Coates,
• 14 O'Connor,
• 15 McQuoid,
• 16 Magennis

Morocco

• 01 Lamyaghri
• 02 Soulaimani yellow card
• 03 El Kaddouri
• 04 Kantari
• 05 Mehdi Benatia (Mohamed Berrabeh 78)
• 06 Hermach (El Ahmadi 89)
• 10 Belhanda (Benzoukane 75)
• 13 Kharja
• 20 Hadji (El Zhar 80)
• 21 Chadli
• 17 Chamakh yellow card (El Arabi 71)

Substitutes

• 12 Mohamadina,
• 14 Benzoukane,
• 16 Ainy,
• 11 El Ahmadi,
• 24 Mohamed Berrabeh,
• 08 El Zhar,
• 09 El Arabi

Att: 15,000

NORTHERN IRELAND

MOROCCO

Possession

• Northern Ireland 50%
• Morocco 50%

Attempts on target

• Northern Ireland 1
• Morocco 7

Attempts off target

• Northern Ireland 6
• Morocco 7

Corners

• Northern Ireland 2
• Morocco 6

Fouls

• Northern Ireland 8
• Morocco 14

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+3:25 The referee brings the game to a close.
• 90:00+2:03 Shot by Rory Patterson from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
• 90:00+1:17 Corner from right by-line taken by Michael O'Connor.
• 90:00+0:06 Shot by Youssef El Arabi from just outside the area goes over the net.
• 88:38 Substitution Karim El Ahmadi on for Adil Hermach.
• 85:53 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael O'Connor from the left by-line to the near post, Foul by Rachid Soulaimani on Josh McQuoid, Penalty awarded.
• 85:53 GOAL - Rory Patterson:Northern Ireland 1 - 1 Morocco Rory Patterson scores a penalty. Northern Ireland 1-1 Morocco.
• 85:13 Booking The referee books Rachid Soulaimani for unsporting behaviour.
• 79:39 Substitution Nabil El Zhar is brought on as a substitute for Youssouf Hadji.
• 78:26 Youssouf Hadji has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
• 78:01 Youssef El Arabi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Barton. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Evans.
• 77:16 Houssine Kharja concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Magennis. Free kick taken by Jonathan Evans.
• 77:16 Substitution Mehdi Benatia goes off and Mohamed Berrabeh comes on.
• 75:32 Chakib Benzoukane gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rory Patterson. Jonathan Evans takes the free kick.
• 74:45 Mehdi Benatia gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Josh McQuoid. Josh McQuoid takes the direct free kick.
• 74:45 Substitution Chakib Benzoukane joins the action as a substitute, replacing Younes Belhanda.
• 70:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Houssine Kharja by Adam Barton. Mehdi Benatia restarts play with the free kick.
• 70:48 Substitution Youssef El Arabi comes on in place of Marouane Chamakh.
• 68:19 Substitution Niall McGinn leaves the field to be replaced by Josh Magennis.
• 66:50 Adil Hermach concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh McQuoid. Free kick taken by Jonathan Evans.
• 65:56 Booking Caution for Marouane Chamakh.
• 65:06 Inswinging corner taken by Nacer Chadli, save made by Alan Blayney.
• 63:38 Michael O'Connor fouled by Mehdi Benatia, the ref awards a free kick. Michael O'Connor fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
• 62:58 The assistant referee signals for offside against Marouane Chamakh. Alan Blayney takes the indirect free kick.
• 62:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Barton on Youssouf Hadji. Rachid Soulaimani restarts play with the free kick.
• 61:38 Substitution Colin Coates replaces Ryan McGivern.
• 60:03 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Younes Belhanda from the right by-line to the near post.
• 59:24 Adil Hermach takes a shot. Save by Alan Blayney.
• 58:05 Corner taken right-footed by Nacer Chadli, clearance made by Adam Barton.
• 56:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adil Hermach on Michael O'Connor. Free kick taken by Ryan McGivern.
• 54:55 GOAL - Marouane Chamakh:Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Morocco Goal scored by Marouane Chamakh from inside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Northern Ireland 0-1 Morocco.
• 52:58 Badr El Kaddouri challenges Michael O'Connor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Josh McQuoid from the free kick.
• 52:27 Josh McQuoid challenges Adil Hermach unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adil Hermach takes the direct free kick.
• 51:14 Shot from long distance by Badr El Kaddouri goes wide of the left-hand upright.
• 50:19 Marouane Chamakh fouled by Jonathan Evans, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Younes Belhanda.
• 46:04 Substitution Josh McQuoid replaces Chris Brunt.
• 45:41 Substitution Patrick McCourt leaves the field to be replaced by Michael O'Connor.
• 45:09 Substitution Rory McArdle on for Aaron Hughes.
• 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
• 45:01 Substitution (Northern Ireland) makes a substitution, with Alan Blayney coming on for Jonny Tuffey.
• Half Time
• 45:00+0:07 The first half comes to an end.
• 40:54 Patrick McCourt concedes a free kick for a foul on Houssine Kharja. Adil Hermach produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
• 38:35 Youssouf Hadji takes a shot. Blocked by Niall McGinn.
• 37:31 Inswinging corner taken by Nacer Chadli from the left by-line, save made by Jonny Tuffey.
• 37:04 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Nacer Chadli, Chris Brunt makes a clearance.
• 34:10 Marouane Chamakh challenges Adam Barton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Patrick McCourt restarts play with the free kick.
• 33:44 Free kick awarded for a foul by Younes Belhanda on Jonathan Evans. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Evans.
• 28:38 Chris Brunt produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.
• 27:57 Younes Belhanda fouled by Ryan McGivern, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Youssouf Hadji.
• 27:12 Rory Patterson is ruled offside. Nadir Lamyaghri takes the indirect free kick.
• 25:12 Youssouf Hadji takes a shot. Save by Jonny Tuffey.
• 24:27 Niall McGinn takes a shot. Badr El Kaddouri gets a block in.
• 21:01 Younes Belhanda produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.
• 18:44 Marouane Chamakh challenges Jonathan Evans unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Evans.
• 18:03 Nacer Chadli produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
• 17:48 Houssine Kharja takes a shot. Aaron Hughes gets a block in.
• 15:51 Unfair challenge on John Gorman by Adil Hermach results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Chris Brunt from the free kick.
• 13:41 Effort on goal by Houssine Kharja from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
• 13:24 Corner from the left by-line taken by Nacer Chadli, Adam Barton makes a clearance.
• 13:05 Nacer Chadli takes a shot. Save by Jonny Tuffey.
• 9:03 Foul by Patrick McCourt on Youssouf Hadji, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mehdi Benatia.
• 8:20 Effort on goal by Chris Brunt from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
• 5:13 Youssouf Hadji challenges Patrick McCourt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jonathan Evans restarts play with the free kick.
• 4:11 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Nadir Lamyaghri.
• 1:46 Shot from just outside the area by Nacer Chadli misses to the left of the target.
• 0:27 Ryan McGivern gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Youssouf Hadji. Younes Belhanda takes the direct free kick.
• 0:00 The referee starts the match.

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