Northern Ireland’s Under-21s were defeated by Greece in a U21 Euro 2027 qualifier staged in central Greece this afternoon.
The Greeks largely controlled proceedings at the Municipal Stadium in Livadia as they scored four goals without reply.
The 4-0 win means the Greeks have consolidated their place at the top of Group F with five wins out of five to date.
Northern Ireland remain in third place (seven points from five games) behind Germany (nine points from four).
U21s boss Tommy Wright made two changes to the team that started the 1-0 win over Latvia at The Oval on Thursday night.
Defender Conor Barr and midfielder Harry Wilson came in, while defender Sean Brown and attacking midfielder Sam Glenfield dropped to the bench.
On 11 minutes Kieran Morrison fired in a shot, however it was comfortably saved by Greece goalkeeper Nikolaos Botis.
A strike by midfielder Sotorios Kontouris from distance was eventually gathered in by Northern Ireland keeper Stephen McMullan, and he also comfortably saved a low drive from midfielder Dimitrios Kaloskamis before guiding another low drive, this time from midfielder Konstantinos Gkoumas, around the post.
On 19 minutes McMullan made an excellent save to thwart Greece attacker Antonios Papakanellos, but when the ball was recycled it eventually fell to defender Christos Alexiou and he slammed it home from seven yards.
In the 25th minute Greece extended their lead. Winger Lampros Smyrlis raced down the left flank before cutting inside and firing in a shot which was pushed out by McMullan, however the ball fell to Gkoumas and he nodded it into the back of the net from six yards out.
On 31 minutes Darren Robinson met a clearance from a Kieran Morrison free-kick, however he could not keep his shot down and the ball sailed over the bar.
A long range effort from Greece forward Stefanos Tzimas hit the side netting as the home side continued to have the bulk of the possession.
In the 39th minute Kontouris steered a free-kick around the wall and inches past the post before McMullan kept out a powerful low shot from Noa Tzeims Alen with his leg.
As the half drew to a close Tzimas had another attempt that was off target and Northern Ireland striker Makenzie Kirk sliced a shot past the upright.
McMullan saved from Kontouris early in the second half, however the game became a bit scrappy after that.
On 62 minutes Northern Ireland substitute Jack Patterson nudged Greek sub Taxiarchis Filon inside the area and the ref adjudged there had been enough contact to merit a penalty. The spot kick was stroked home by Tzimas to make it 3-0 to Greece.
McMullan pushed away a long range shot from Greece substitute Adriano Bregou, and then Greece made it four following a flowing move in the 82nd minute. Smyrlis was slipped in by Bregou and fired the ball into the top corner.
In the closing stages Greece, who had 69 per cent possession in the game, had a couple of half-chances but could not make them count.
Greece: Nikolaos Botis, Athanasios Koutsogoulas, Noa Tzeims Alen, Alexios Kalogeropoulos (captain), Christos Alexiou, Sotirios Kontouris, Dimitrios Kaloskamis, Konstantinos Gkoumas, Stefanos Tzimas, Antonios Papakanellos, Lampros Smyrlis.
Substitutes: (used) Taxiarchis Filon, Adriano Bregou, Georgios Koutsias, Evangelos Nikolaou, Ioannis Apostolakis; (unused) Dimitrios Monastirlis (GK), Georgios Katris, Dimitrios Keramitsis, Ioannis Theodosoulakis.
Northern Ireland: Stephen McMullan, Jonny Russell, Sam Inwood, Tommy Fogarty, Tom Atcheson, Darren Robinson (captain), Conor Barr, Harry Wilson, Makenzie Kirk, Eoin Kenny, Kieran Morrison.
Substitutes: (used) Josh Briggs, Jack Patterson, Liam McStravick, Aodhan Doherty, Bayley McCann; (unused\) Mason Munn, Fraser Barnsley, Sean Brown, Sam Glenfield.
