It’s 62 years since Northern Ireland last played extra-time. They had never been involved in a penalty shoot-out before.
But on a dramatic night at the Grbavica Stadium, Ian Baraclough’s side saw off Bosnia to set up a Euro 2020 play-off final against Slovakia in Belfast next month.
Liam Boyce converted the decisive spot-kick after Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved from Haris Hajradinovic and Edin Visca hit the bar in the shootout, with George Saville testing Northern Ireland nerves by firing over.
Baraclough deserves credit too for sending on Boyce and Conor Washington in the dying seconds of extra-time to take penalties, replacing two other substitutes in Jordan Jones and Jordan Thompson.
‘We were desperate to get the ball out of play to get Boycie and Conor on the pitch,’ said the manager.
‘We had a game plan, something we’ve spoken about and worked on. Who are the best penalty takers and confident stepping up.’
Baraclough was hoping the bitter memory of a World Cup playoff defeat to Switzerland three years ago would act as extra motivation for his players, but they made an unsteady start and had to face a series of set-pieces.
Another issue was keeping their feet on a greasy surface in Sarajevo, having opted not to train on the pitch beforehand, and it contributed to Bosnia taking the lead in the 13th minute.
Jonny Evans fell over as he pursued Branimir Cipetic down the right, and the full-back had time to pick out Rade Krunic close to the penalty spot. Krunic chose to hit it first time and stroked a shot through Peacock-Farrell’s legs with the ball going in off the inside of his left ankle.
The goalscorer fired another effort straight at the Northern Ireland keeper after good work by Bosnia’s two danger men, Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko, while Pjanic was inches away from doubling the lead.
Northern Ireland grew into the game and Josh Magennis had their best chance of the first half in the 15th minute when his header from Corry Evans’s cross was brilliantly kept out by Ibrahim Sehic, and Saville took a boot to the head from Anel Ahmedhodzic as he tried to score from the rebound.
Saville also went close to an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, but Baraclough’s side were level within seven minutes of the restart through Niall McGinn, then man who scored a memorable goal against Ukraine in his country’s only appearance at the Euro finals in France four years ago.
Magennis flicked on a long ball forward and Aberdeen winger McGinn stole in ahead of Cipetic and then barged his way through Sinisa Sanicanin before guiding a shot past Sehic.
The goal clearly rocked Bosnia and Paddy McNair and Saville could both have put Northern Ireland ahead in the minutes that followed. However, Pjanic hit the bar with a free kick as the game opened up.
Neither side could find a winner in as Northern Ireland went beyond 90 minutes for the first time since a play-off against Czechoslovakia at the 1958 World Cup. Now it’s Slovakia standing in their way.
The result was a perfect outcome for captain Steven Davis on the night he became his country’s most capped player, making his 120th appearance to surpass the great Pat Jennings.
‘I can look back on the night I managed to break the record with fond memories,’ said Davis. ‘It’s a huge personal achievement for me – I can enjoy it a bit now.’
