Northern Ireland 1-1 Morocco: Report

17 November 2010 19:01

A late penalty from Rory Patterson spared Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Blayney's blushes in a low-key 1-1 draw with Morocco.

Blayney handed the visitors the lead on a wet and windy night at Windsor Park when he miscontrolled a backpass and his clearance rebounded into the net off Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh.

- Northern Ireland 1-1 Morocco: As it happened

Blayney then partially redeemed himself by tipping a fierce Adil Hermach drive onto the bar and Patterson stepped up to force a draw after Josh McQuoid was fouled five minutes from time.

Northern Ireland survived a scare midway through the first half as Younes Belhanda slipped Youssef Hadji into the box but the Nancy midfielder shot straight at Tuffey.

Ten minutes into the second half Rory McArdle played Blayney into trouble with a back pass which the Linfield keeper failed to control.

He hastily tried to kick away as Chamakh advanced but the Arsenal striker was too quick and his clearance rebounded off the Moroccan and into the net.

Morocco went close to a second moments later as Hermach unleashed a ferocious 40-yard drive but Blayney made some amends for his gaffe his he tipped onto the bar.

The game appeared to be winding down when Bournemouth forward McQuoid won a penalty from a corner after being pulled down by Rachid Soulaimani.

Plymouth's Patterson held his nerve to score from the penalty spot.

Morocco had a late chance to snatch victory but Youssef El-Arabi shot over after a weaving run.

Source: DSG