Switzerland edge Northern Ireland from the spot

The hosts were welcomed by a huge atmosphere for what was widely regarded as the biggest game at Windsor Park for generations. Green and white flags were waved from all four corners of the ground as the players emerged and the Swiss looked slightly taken aback when the game got underway.

However, it did not take the visitors long to recompose and settle on the ball, but despite all the possession, they had no goals to show for it at half time.

Northern Ireland withstood the onslaught from the Swiss throughout the entire first half, with Granit Xhaka enjoying the first two clear chances for his side. The Arsenal midfielder was found unmarked at the edge of the box twice in succession and both times he sent his curling effort inches over the bar.

Seferovic then warned the hosts when he got on the end of a superb first-time cross from Shaqiri, but McGovern got down well to tip it away expertly. The centre-forward grew frustrated as the minutes went by and he failed to find the back of the net.

Both Xhaka and Shaqiri saw plenty of the ball as chances came and went for the away side, but the goal did not arrive, to the home crowd's delight.

However, the visitors came out to the second half with a plan. Shaqiri fired an early warning thirty seconds after the restart and it was the former Bayern Munich man that earned his side the controversial penalty kick, connecting a first-time volley that came off Corry Evans' shoulder.

The Romanian official pointed to the spot and Ricardo Rodriguez stepped up to send McGovern the wrong way and leave the home fans fuming with the referee's decision, but they were still not settled by going behind on the scoreboard.

The hosts piled bodies forward in search of an equaliser with more heart than quality and the Swiss were never really troubled in defence. Sommer was not tested by the Northern Irish players who did not have a shot on target in the whole game.

The Swiss claimed a crucial and deserved lead at Windsor Park thanks to a somewhat controversial penalty, but Michael O'Neill's men still have a chance going into the return fixture.