Wales could only manage a draw at home to Northern Ireland in their uninspiring friendly in Cardiff.
The lacklustre home side fell behind midway through the first half as Jamie Donley struck on the rebound after heading his initial effort against the post.
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Wales equalised less than a minute after the restart with Sorba Thomas bundling in from David Brooks’ deflected shot.
Neco Williams forced substitute Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles into a decent save as Craig Bellamy’s side improved, while the visitors’ Eoin Toal saw a header superbly clawed away by Karl Darlow.
Ultimately, however, this was a fixture nobody wanted, having to take place because both teams lost their World Cup play-off semi-finals last Thursday, against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy respectively.
Those circumstances made for an apathetic atmosphere at Cardiff City Stadium, reflected by a lack of intensity on the field which has come to define international friendlies.
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Wales analysis: World Cup hangover for Bellamy’s men
Neither team wanted this game but, while Northern Ireland could take heart from their defeat in Italy, Wales were bereft after losing on penalties at home to Bosnia.
Bellamy admitted he and his players were still processing the “heartbreak” of that defeat, and it showed in a jaded first-half performance.
Wales dominated possession – as they always do under their head coach – but there was no pace or penetration to their play, unsurprising perhaps given the physical and emotional toll of their efforts last Thursday.
What was less forgivable was the sloppy defending which allowed Northern Ireland to take the lead, centre-back Ben Cabango losing sight of Donley and giving him a free header, which the Tottenham Hotspur forward on loan at Oxford United flicked against the post before reacting quickly to convert the rebound.
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Cabango did not emerge for the second half, during which his team-mates played with far more zip and purpose.
The introduction of Leeds United winger Daniel James helped, while Bournemouth’s Brooks showed the value of direct running as he drove at the Northern Irish defence and saw his shot steered in by Thomas.
Wales had chances to win, namely Williams’ long-range strike and a stylish outside-of-the-boot effort from captain Harry Wilson.
But this was a tired team performance fitting for an underwhelming occasion, a forgettable game from which everyone will want to move on swiftly.
Northern Ireland are ranked 71st in the world by Fifa, 35 spots lower than Wales who are 36th [Getty Images]
Northern Ireland analysis: Travelling support rewarded
While there was also World Cup disappointment for Northern Ireland, there was not the same heartbreak that Wales had as they pushed one of Europe’s heavyweights before coming undone in Bergamo.
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The pre-match build-up had been dominated by Michael O’Neill’s dual role with Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers, but on the pitch it was business as usual for his players in Cardiff.
Donley’s opener was nothing less than the visitors deserved, especially for the 300 travelling supporters who had made their way to Cardiff despite the Irish FA’s offer of a refund for those who had hoped the game would be a World Cup decider.
It was a solid defensive performance in the first half, but Northern Ireland showed more in the final third than in Bergamo as they pinned Wales back before Donley’s goal at the second time of asking.
Thomas’ equaliser soon after the restart, just as O’Neill had made three changes, was a sucker-punch but NI quickly settled and they were unlucky not to re-take the lead as Toal produced a superb save from Darlow.
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There was a debut for Tom Atcheson, who plays under O’Neill at Blackburn, as Northern Ireland ended the game with three starters in the form of captain Trai Hume, Toal and Justin Devenny.
O’Neill will now return to Ewood Park for the remainder of the season as he looks to keep them in the Championship, before June friendlies for Northern Ireland.
The Nations League follows in September, and while O’Neill is contracted until 2028, there is still uncertainty over his long-term future if a club offer was to arrive in the summer.
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