The result means that Italy drop from first to second and will have to qualify for the World Cup via the playoffs. Switzerland will be extremely grateful to Northern Ireland, with this point opening the door for them to grab top spot. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, secure third place with the draw today.
Italy lose top spot in Group C after being held by Northern Ireland. The first half was a tight affair with few chances for both sides. Italy needed something to change in the second 45, but were continually frustrated by the hosts. When did they manage to find a slight opening, Chiesa was unable to finish, with a couple of shots drifting narrowly wide. Ultimately, Northern Ireland created enough chances on the break to win the game. Saville was stopped by a brilliant Donnarumma save, while Washington managed to fire a shot straight at Bonucci on the line after rounding the goalkeeper. Nevertheless, the hosts held on and grabbed an eye-catching point against the European champions.
G. Donnarumma
Yellow Card
90' + 4' Yellow Card Gianluigi Donnarumma
90' + 3' FULL TIME: Northern Ireland 0-0 Italy
90' + 1' Three minutes of stoppage time are added on as Italy continue to push for a winner.
90' HUGE CHANCE! Washington beats the offside trap and gets onto the throughball before Donnarumma! He takes it around the goalkeeper, and approaches the box as Bonucci races back to the goal line! However, Washington's eventual shot is tame and Bonucci is able to nervously scoop it off the line!
89' The hosts repel yet another corner, as Evans thumps a header away to safety at the near post.
88' Italy are camped inside the Northern Ireland half as they continue to throw everything at finding a winner.
87' Scammaca nods Berardi's dangerous delivery back across goal, but Flanagan is there to nod it behind. The resulting set-piece flicks off Bonucci and goes away for a goal kick.
85' You sense there'll be a late goal still. Italy are throwing everyone forward, while Northern Ireland are still carrying plenty of pace on the break.
B. Peacock-Farrell
Yellow Card
83' Peacock-Farrell is shown a yellow card for time-wasting.
82' CHANCE! Northern Ireland almost win it! The hosts hit Italy with a rapid counter-attack that ends with a completely unmarked Dallas, drilling inches wide of the far post from 20 yards!
G. Scamacca
Emerson
80' Italy bring on another striker for a defender as they grow increasingly desperate. Emerson is replaced by Scamacca.
80' CLOSE! Emerson lets fly from 25 yards and it takes a deflection off Flanagan before spinning just wide of the far post!
79' Cathcart firmly heads Locatelli's deep cross to safety. Italy are working hard, but just can't find a way through right now.
77' Washington bursts past Emerson and drives into the box, before winning a corner. McCann swings it in but Italy clear it easily.
75' The home crowd continue to roar their team on as they sense that a famous draw - or maybe more - could be within reach.
74' Berardi attempts to cut in from the right flank, but Lewis muscles him off the ball before clearing.
C. Evans
G. Saville
72' Saville also goes off with Corry Evans taking his place.
C. Washington
G. Whyte
72' Northern Ireland refresh their fatigued side with two changes. The first sees Whyte depart for Washington after a tireless display.
71' Northern Ireland will be dreaming of creating one clear chance on the break. They've only managed one shot in the second period, but it fell to Saville in a prime position and he was unlucky not to score.
70' Northern Ireland stoically see off two more Italy corners. The hosts are going to come under huge pressure in these final 20 minutes.
M. Locatelli
Jorginho
68' Jorginho also makes way for Locatelli.
F. Bernardeschi
L. Insigne
68' Two more changes for Italy as they search for an opener. The first sees Insigne make way for Bernardeschi.
67' Donnarumma sails out to comfortably claim Davis' deep free-kick.
66' Switzerland are now 2-0 up against Bulgaria - Italy now know they'll have to win to avoid the playoffs.
A. Belotti
N. Barella
64' Belotti comes on for Barella as Italy throw another striker on. They know they desperately need a goal and they've responded accordingly.
64' CLOSE! Chiesa plays a clever one-two with Berardi inside the box, before engineering space to shoot from 10 yards. The attacker bends it across goal and it spins inches wide of the far post!
62' Whyte leads a promising counter-attack for the hosts, but his pass goes behind McCann and the move comes to a halt.
60' Magennis fouls Berardi 25 yards from goal, presenting Italy with a promising free-kick. Berardi takes it himself and bends it over the wall and towards the bottom corner, but Peacock-Farrell rushes across to scoop it up comfortably.
58' Italy have lacked incision so far. They've made 450 passes compared to Northern Ireland's 191, but they've only produced four more shots.
J. Magennis
Yellow Card
57' Magennis bundles Berardi over and earns himself a yellow card.
56' Switzerland now lead 1-0 against Bulgaria. As things stand, Italy are dropping to second and entering the playoffs. You'd expect the visitors to hunt even more urgently for a goal now.
54' Insigne wriggles in behind on the break, but he gets into the box at a tight angle and he can only drill a tame effort straight at Peacock-Farrell.
52' Brilliant save! Northern Ireland almost take the lead! Whyte picks out Lewis at the back post and the wingback sends it back towards Saville who blasts it against Donnarumma from six yards! That was a huge chance.
50' Insigne drives to the edge of the box and pulls a 20-yard strike a few yards wide of the far post.
48' Italy work an intricate move from a free-kick that ends with Jorginho overpowering the final pass and it drifts behind.
46' Italy get the second 45 underway.
B. Cristante
S. Tonali
46' Tonali, following his earlier yellow card, is replaced by Cristante at half-time.
Right now, Switzerland are drawing 0-0 with Bulgaria meaning that Italy still hold top spot. But they'll be anxious to find an opener as soon as possible in the second half, knowing that Switzerland could currently overtake them with one goal.
Northern Ireland restrict Italy as the teams head in at 0-0 for the interval. The hosts have put in a tight defensive performance, leaving Italy with few chances. The visitors mustered just four shots, but did come close late on in the half when Insigne broke through, only to poke his effort straight at Peacock-Farrell. Northern Ireland were restricted to set-pieces, but they'll be biding their time, aiming to capitalise on Italian frustration later on.
45' + 1' HALF TIME: Northern Ireland 0-0 Italy
45' Davis clips in a deep free-kick but again, Italy stand up to the aerial challenge and clear.
44' Whyte fights hard to win a corner from Emerson. Davis whips it in, but Bonucci clears at the front post.
43' Acerbi searches for the run of Barella, but his pass is too powerful and it runs away for a goal kick.
41' Chiesa forces a brilliant save from Peacock-Farrell, who blocks his close-range strike with his legs; but it wouldn't have counted - the flag was up for offside.
39' CHANCE! Flanagan gives it away, presenting Italy with a three-on-three. Berardi works it out wide to Insigne who jinks past Cathcart to get inside the box! However, Insigne can't quite get the ball out of his feet and, under pressure from Evans, he eventually pokes it harmlessly straight at Peacock-Farrell.
37' Chiesa presses Evans on the edge of his own box, and for a moment it looks as though he'll steal the ball! However, Evans keeps his composure and scoops it over the attacker before clearing.
35' Northern Ireland have put in an outstanding defensive display so far - Italy have managed just three shots.
33' Chiesa has worried Dallas so far. This time he runs ominously at the wingback, before drilling a 12-yard strike through a crowd of bodies and straight at Peacock-Farrell.
31' The hosts confidently clear a succession of Italy corners.
30' Northern Ireland make a rare foray forward, but Dallas's long-throw is easily cleared by Acerbi.
29' Italy work a clever routine with their corner. Berardi clips a pass to Insigne on the edge of the box and the attacker takes a touch before bending a 20-yard strike straight at Peacock-Farrell.
27' Italy have pushed the hosts back now. Northern Ireland are defending deep inside their own half as they concentrate to prevent Italy from finding any space.
25' Chiesa controls Bonucci's switch beautifully and breezes past Dallas. However, Flanagan and Davis are alert to the danger and they crowd the attacker out before clearing.
23' Barella springs onto Bonucci's clipped pass to find himself clean through, but he's called back for an offside.
21' Di Lorenzo runs at Lewis before driving in a low cross that Saville awkwardly nudges clear.
19' Barella cuts inside from the left before bending an effort from 30 yards. It looks promising initially, but it eventually spins harmlessly down the middle and into the arms of Peacock-Farrell.
17' Italy haven't really managed to settle yet. They've regularly searched for Insigne over the top, but Northern Ireland have been comfortable with that approach.
15' Close! It's almost a costly mistake from Flanagan who lets a cross bounce, before flicking a clearance against Chiesa with the ball ricocheting into the side netting!
13' Northern Ireland enjoy a spell of pressure as they trap Italy inside their own third. The hosts are hassling Italy high up the pitch and it's made the visiting backline seem nervy.
11' Flanagan rises highest to meet Davis' free-kick, but he can only plant his header high and wide.
S. Tonali
Yellow Card
9' Whyte makes a surging 30-yard run, only to be stopped by a cynical trip from Tonali. The midfielder is shown a yellow card swiftly afterward.
9' SAVE! Insigne finds a pocket of space and uses it to thread Di Lorenzo in behind! The wingback approaches goal from a tight angle and pokes it across Peacock-Farrell from eight yards, but the goalkeeper acrobatically pushes it away!
7' Berardi lurks dangerously on the shoulder of Cathcart, but the defender anticipates the danger and nods it over him and back to Peacock-Farrell.
5' The visitors continue to settle into the game with a long spell of possession inside their own half.
3' Italy win an early corner as Davis turns Berardi's low cross behind. The visitors work it short, before Magennis eventually hacks the delivery clear.
1' Northern Ireland get the first half underway.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!
Italy will be particularly wary tonight, given their last match away against today’s opponents. The last meeting between Northern Ireland and Italy on Northern Irish soil was a goalless draw in October 2010 in a EUROs qualifier at Windsor Park.
Italy, meanwhile, make two changes following a draw with Switzerland: Tonali comes in for Locatelli and Belotti drops out for Berardi up top.
Northern Ireland make three changes to the side that defeated Lithuania last time out. McNair, Ferguson and Washington make way for Flanagan, Whyte and Jamal Lewis.
SUBS: Alex Meret, Giacomo Raspadori, Bryan Cristante, Davide Zappacosta, Gianluca Mancini, Alessio Cragno, Manuel Locatelli, Gianluca Scamacca, Andrea Belotti, Matteo Pessina, Federico Bernardeschi, Gian Marco Ferrari.
ITALY (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, Francesco Acerbi, Emerson; Sandro Tonali, Jorginho, Nicolo Barella; Domenico Berardi, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Chiesa.
NORTHERN IRELAND (4-1-4-1): Bailey Peacock-Farrell; Craig Cathcart, Tom Flanagan, Jonny Evans, Jamal Lewis; Steven Davis; Stuart Dallas, Alistair McCann, George Saville, Gavin Whyte; Josh Magennis.
Italy, meanwhile, are under significant pressure. They’re top of the group, but level on points with Switzerland. If Italy slip up, they know that Switzerland can snatch the automatic qualification spot, sending Italy into the uncertainty of the playoffs.
Hello and welcome to live commentary of this European World Cup Qualifying Group C fixture between Northern Ireland and Italy. It’s all to play for in this final match of qualifying at Winsdor Park. Northern Ireland enter this one in third, with Bulgaria level on points in fourth: they’ll be determined to better Bulgaria’s result against Switzerland secure third place.
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