Match ends, Cyprus 0, Northern Ireland 0.
CyprusCyprus0Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland0
Northern Ireland's goal drought in away friendlies now stretches to 10 games after their stalemate against Cyprus.
Antonis Georgallides saved an early Martin Paterson header before the hosts took control with Nestoras Mitidis and Demetris Christofi squandering chances.
Jamie Ward fired wide in the second half before Gareth McAuley was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Christofi on 76 minutes.
Roy Carroll saved a late Andreas Makris shot as the visitors held on.
The portents for the game were not good - a Northern Ireland side without a goal in an away friendly since 2006 against the Cypriots, who had drawn a blank in their last six competitive matches.
The visitors made a bright start in front of a paltry crowd at the GSP Stadium and Paterson came close to scoring after 13 minutes.
Niall McGinn sent in an inviting cross and the Huddersfield striker saw his powerful six-yard header saved by the alert Georgallides.
The balance of power shifted towards Cyprus as the half progressed and the hosts were unfortunate not to go in ahead at the break.
Constantinos Makrides slotted past keeper Alan Mannus but Ryan McGivern was perfectly placed to clear his goal-bound shot.
Mitidis drilled wide from eight yards from a low cross before Christofi's volley was palmed over by Mannus after the Sion striker beat the offside trap.
Mannus made another good save from a deflected cross as a disappointing 45 minutes for Northern Ireland came to an end.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill made two half-time changes with Kyle Lafferty and Carroll replacing Paterson and Mannus.
The Cypriot threat abated in a more even second half and Ward dragged his shot wide from McGinn's clever throughball.
Christofi blazed over from 18 yards before his low shot was easily saved by Carroll.
Northern Ireland played the last 14 minutes with 10 men after McAuley was sent off for chopping down Christofi as the forward raced clear on goal.
Cyprus debutant Makris was presented with a chance to win it in the final minute, but Carroll raced out to smother the substitute's shot.
Line-ups
Cyprus
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Georgallidis
- 6Kyriakou
- 15Antoniades
- 13MakridisSubstituted forCharalambidisat 64'minutes
- 4Merkis
- 2Júnior Dossa Momade
- 9ChristofiSubstituted forMakrisat 85'minutes
- 21LabanBooked at 47minsSubstituted forKyriakouat 67'minutes
- 8Mitidis
- 23NikolaouSubstituted forArtymatasat 58'minutes
- 7AloneftisSubstituted forEfremat 51'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Charalambous
- 5Sielis
- 10Charalambidis
- 11Alexandrou
- 12Loizou
- 14Kyriakou
- 17Efrem
- 18Papathanasiou
- 19Artymatas
- 20Stylianou
- 24Makris
Northern Ireland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 12MannusSubstituted forCarrollat 45'minutes
- 20Cathcart
- 3McGivern
- 16NorwoodSubstituted forMcCourtat 74'minutes
- 4McAuleyBooked at 76mins
- 5Bruce
- 7McGinnSubstituted forFergusonat 73'minutes
- 8Davis
- 9PatersonSubstituted forLaffertyat 45'minutes
- 11Brunt
- 19WardBooked at 22minsSubstituted forMckayat 63'minutesSubstituted forMcArdleat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Carroll
- 2Lafferty
- 6Ferguson
- 10Lafferty
- 14Mckay
- 15McCourt
- 17Shiels
- 18McArdle
- 21Paton
- 22Reeves
- 23McGovern
- Referee:
- Liran Liany
Match Stats
Home TeamCyprusAway TeamNorthern Ireland
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cyprus 0, Northern Ireland 0.
Post update
Foul by Charis Kyriakou (Cyprus).
Post update
Steven Davis (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Giorgos Merkis.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Georgios Efrem (Cyprus) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Charalambos Kyriakou.
Post update
Antonis Georgallidis (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Rory McArdle (Northern Ireland).
Post update
Foul by Dosa Júnior (Cyprus).
Post update
Kyle Lafferty (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andreas Makris (Cyprus) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Konstantinos Charalambidis with a through ball.
Post update
Offside, Northern Ireland. Patrick McCourt tries a through ball, but Shane Ferguson is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Dosa Júnior (Cyprus).
Post update
Kyle Lafferty (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Cyprus. Andreas Makris replaces Demetris Christofi.
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Rory McArdle replaces Billy McKay.
Post update
Offside, Northern Ireland. Ryan McGivern tries a through ball, but Kyle Lafferty is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Marios Antoniades.
Post update
Offside, Cyprus. Konstantinos Charalambidis tries a through ball, but Dosa Júnior is caught offside.
Dismissal
Gareth McAuley (Northern Ireland) is shown the red card.
