Football

Slovenia vs Northern Ireland player ratings – Michael O’Neill’s team suffer 4th straight defeat

September 8, 2023 12:59 am

  • Slovenia triumph in a six goal thriller in Ljubljana to bolster their Euro 2024 qualification hopes and all but end Northern Ireland’s chances of progressing to Germany.
  • The hosts took the lead just three minutes into Thursday’s match, only to be pegged back almost immediately by the visitors.
  • Jonny Evans scored at both ends on an eventful night for the veteran defender, before Andraz Sporar netted the killer fourth goal for Slovenia.

Slovenia player ratings

Jan Oblak 7/10 – A busier night than he might have expected with 2 conceded but also 5 saves from the Atletico Madrid man.

Erik Janza 5/10 – Endured a tough 85 minutes against the impressive McMenamin.

Jaka Bijol 6/10 – A couple of useful clearances as Northern Ireland pressed for an equaliser in the First Half.

David Brekalo 6/10 – A physical display from Brekalo who received the home team’s only yellow card.

Zan Karnicnik 6/10 – A steady performance from the Slovenia right back.

Jan Mlakar 7/10 – A threat down the left and he nearly set up another goal for the impressive Andraz Sporar whose header hit the bar.

Timi Elsnik 6/10 – Not heavily involved in the key moments in the game, but did a reasonable job in the middle of the park.

Adam Gnezda Cerin 8/10 – Set up Slovenia’s third goal which gave them control of the game just before the break.

Petar Stojanovic 6/10 – The least impressive of the home team’s midfield quartet.

Benjamin Sesko 10/10 – At the heart of everything that was good about Slovenia going forwards with two assists and a goal before his late substitution. Also had a goal ruled out for offside.

Andraz Sporar 9/10 – A constant threat in the game and rewarded with the first and last goals in an entertaining match.

Substitutes

Jasmin Kurtic N/A

Zan Vipotnik N/A

Jure Balkovec N/A 

Sandi Lovric N/A

Northern Ireland player ratings

Bailey Peacock-Farrell 5/10 – Failed to keep out any of Slovenia’s four shots on target, although not helped by some poor defending.

Ciaron Brown 4/10 – At fault for Slovenia’s second goal before an early injury withdrawal.

Jonny Evans 6/10 – Deflected Petar Stojanovic’s shot into his own net, before making amends with a goal at the other end and a goal line clearance.

Paddy McNair 5/10 – Allowed Andraz Sporar too much space on a difficult night for the entire visiting defence.

Trai Hume 5/10 – Featured on both flanks in a testing game for the 21 year old.

Matthew Kennedy 6/10 – A few bright moments on his return to the team, but replaced at the break.

George Saville 6/10 – Worked hard, but struggled to make much happen in the final third.

Shea Charles 7/10 – A bright spark in a tough game as the 19 year old further underlined his potential, looking composed in possession.

Isaac Price 7/10 – A first international goal for the teenager who briefly levelled the score with a close range finish early on.

Conor McMenamin 8/10 – Some impressive wing play from the St Mirren man who was perhaps the pick of the bunch for the away team.

Dion Charles 5/10 – Replaced at the break having made little impact on the game.

Substitutes

Craig Cathcart 6/10 – Introduced after just 20 minutes but Northern Ireland’s defensive uncertainty continued.

Josh Magennis 5/10 – Couldn’t make the most of a late headed opportunity.

Conor Washington 6/10 – Failed to make much impact after his Half-Time introduction.

Ali McCann N/A

Paul Smyth NA

Player of the match: Benjamin Sesko

It was a toss-up for player of the match between Slovenia’s front two who gave the away defence a torrid evening. Andraz Sporar scored a brace and probably should have walked away with the match ball, but Benjamin Sesko was the driving force behind the home team’s victory.

He produced numerous moments of skill and sliced some cracking balls through to his strike partner which opened up the Northern Irish defence. He also got his goal with a cool First Half finish having seen his effort chalked off for offside only a matter of minutes earlier.

Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!