BBC Sport - Football - Chile 1-0 N Ireland (original) (raw)

Esteban Paredes is challenged by NI captain Stephen Craigan

Northern Ireland lost by a single goal to World-Cup bound Chile in the second match of their summer tour in Santiago.

Esteban Paredes scored the winner with a powerful backpost header from a Matias Fernandez corner on 30 minutes.

Paredes outjumped Ryan McGivern and the ball sneaked in between the post and Michael Bryan who was on the goal-line.

Johnny Gorman blasted over the bar when well placed before the break and Marco Estrada and Mark Gonzalez produced good saves from goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

Estrada shot straight at Blayney as the hosts made a lively start and then the Linfield goalkeeper came out of his goal quickly to deny Gonzalo Fierro.

The South Americans took the lead on the half hour when Paredes' header from a Fernandez corner sneaked in between the post and Bryan.

Northern Ireland's first chance of the game fell to teenager Johnny Gorman but he was crowded out by Chile defenders as he bore in on goal.

Gonzalez dragged a shot wide and then Gorman wasted a glorious opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

Rory Patterson put the young Wolves player through on goal but he blasted over the bar from a few yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Michael McGovern, Rory McArdle and Kevin Braniff were introduced as second-half substitutes and McGovern was soon called into action as he pushed a Gonzalez effort round the post.

Estrada saw his long-range left-foot shot saved by McGovern and the Ross County goalkeeper was again on hand to push an Arturo Vidal effort wide.

Fernandez fired a free-kick wide as the tempo of the match faded in the latter stages and McGovern made one final excellent save from Estrada's long-range shot.

It was a battling display from Nigel Worthington's young side against the World-Cup bound South Americans.

Chile: Pinto, Vidal, Fuentes, Contreras, Cereceda, Isla, Estrada, Fernandez, Fierro, Paredes, Gonzalez. Subs: Marin, Orellana, Gutierrez, Martinez, Ross.

N Ireland: Blayney, Little, McGivern, McAuley, Craigan, Evans, Garrett, Patterson, Mulgrew, Gorman, Bryan. Subs: McGovern, Braniff, McArdle, Coates, Magennis, Lawrie.