Wednesday 16 November 2016

International friendly roundup: Croatia end Northern Ireland’s home run

• Mario Mandzukic among scorers in 3-0 win for visitors at Windsor Park
• Italy and Germany share goalless draw in Milan

Northern Ireland rounded off their impressive 2016 on a losing note as a depleted Croatia became the first visiting side to win at Windsor Park in three years.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat‑trick in a 4-2 win for Portugal, Michael O’Neill’s men had recorded eight wins and two draws in their previous 10 fixtures in Belfast, but they were undone by a Croatian team missing Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Dejan Lovren among others in a 3-0 defeat. Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring by bundling home in the ninth minute – his 29th international goal and the first goal Northern Ireland had conceded at Windsor Park in 463 minutes. Duje Cop doubled the visitors’ lead 10 minutes before the break with Andrej Kramaric adding a third after 67 minutes.

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