{"id":225485,"date":"2016-06-26T07:56:01","date_gmt":"2016-06-26T07:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=225485"},"modified":"2016-06-26T07:56:01","modified_gmt":"2016-06-26T07:56:01","slug":"wales-into-euros-quarters-after-own-goal-sees-off-northern-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/06\/wales-into-euros-quarters-after-own-goal-sees-off-northern-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales into Euros quarters after own goal sees off Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"
Wales reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 as Gareth McAuley’s own goal gave them victory over Northern Ireland in a tense last-16 encounter.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland shaded much of the game and largely snuffed out Wales’ attacking threat, but they also lacked a cutting edge in attack.<\/p>\n
Wales only managed one shot on target and the game was settled by the one moment of real quality at Parc des Princes.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland’s resistance was finally broken when centre-back McAuley turned Gareth Bale’s low, whipped cross into his own net.<\/p>\n
It means Wales – in their first major tournament finals since the 1958 World Cup – will face Belgium or Hungary in the last eight in Lille on Friday.<\/p>\n
Chris Coleman’s side were blunted by their dogged opponents, but the scrappy nature of victory and the winning goal will matter little to their jubilant fans.<\/p>\n
For Northern Ireland, the manner of defeat was galling, particularly for the 63-cap McAuley, who had scored in the 2-0 group win against Ukraine, which had helped his country reach the round of 16.<\/p>\n
Both sides were playing a first match in the knockout stages of a major tournament since 1958, when they reached the World Cup quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Parc des Princes was awash with green and red as fans mingled and revelled in the enormity of the occasion – but the match failed to ignite during a cagey first half.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland’s intention to frustrate their opponents was clear, depriving Wales of space with a careful pressing game held together by rigid positional discipline.<\/p>\n
They also posed a counter-attacking threat, with one early break leading to a chance for Stuart Dallas, whose shot was saved by Wayne Hennessey.<\/p>\n