City’s Rory McArdle was handed a first competitive start at centre-half for Northern Ireland last night, helping them end their disappointing World Cup campaign on something of a positive note with a battling 1-1 draw in Israel.
Captain Steven Davis lashed home a powerful effort with 18 minutes left, responding to Eden Ben Basat’s headed opener just before the break.
A share of the spoils represented a fair verdict – and a surprising one given Northern Ireland’s form and depleted numbers – allowing Michael O’Neill’s men to banish at least some of the scars accrued during defeats to Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.
McArdle – who was making his sixth appearance, and first since he joined City – played the full 90 minutes. He had been on the bench for the last three qualifiers without getting on.
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