Estonia 4 - 1 Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland’s hopes end in Tallinn

Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching Euro 2012 were reduced to tatters in Tallinn as a series of individual mistakes left them on the wrong end of a humbling defeat by Estonia.

In a game littered with defensive mishaps, woeful lapses in concentration from goalkeeper Lee Camp and defender Gareth McAuley were responsible for two of Estonia’s four goals, with the consolation effort coming only when Raio Piroja put the ball past his own keeper.

Having lost to Serbia on Friday too, it also leaves Northern Ireland fifth in Group C and with no hope of salvaging a play-off spot.

Martin Vunk gave Estonia the lead after 29 minutes when McAuley deflected a cross to him and he drilled home. Worse was to come four minutes later, Tarmo Kink shooting from distance only for Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Camp to misjudge the flight of the ball and as he tried to smother it with his legs, succeeded only in diverting it over the line.

The Ulstermen were given some hope when Piroja headed the ball into his own net but, on the hour, McAuley dawdled after collecting a loose ball, allowing Sergei Zenjov to steal in and score.

The fourth goal came in injury time from Kaimar Saag.

Estonia: Pareiko, Jaager, Rahn, Piiroja, Klavan, Puri, Vunk, Vassiljev, Kink, Kruglov, Ahjupera. Subs: Kotenko, Zenjov, Purje, Palatu, Saag, Stepanov, Teniste.

Northern Ireland: Camp, Hughes, Cathcart, Baird, McAuley, Clingan, Davis, Brunt, McCann, McGinn, Healy. Subs: Taylor, McGivern, Feeney, Little, Carson, McQuoid, Gorman.