A last gasp goal from Slovenia’s U15s helped them defeat Northern Ireland’s Under-15 team by two goals to one today.
Competition
UEFA U15 Development Tournament
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U15s 1-2 Slovenia U15s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Conleth O’Neill
Slovenia: Ante Macukat, Aron Vucic
Venue
Hadzici, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date
23 October 2025
Team News
Northern Ireland’s U15s are currently taking part in a UEFA U15 Development Tournament which also features hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Latvia.
Head coach Michael McClean made four changes from the 11 who started game one against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Northern Ireland won by a goal to nil.
Luke Bellingham came in for Kaysan Braniff in nets, while Will Megaw, Noah Stewart and Noah Henderson were promoted from the subs bench. Will Davison, Eoghan Mallon and Daithi Holleran dropped to the bench for this one.
Northern Ireland’s 20-strong squad at the tournament is largely made up of players who attend the Irish FA JD Academy.
How it happened
Slovenia started brightly and the Northern Ireland defence had to repel a handful of free-kicks and corners.
Slovenia’s Malik Mahmutovic had a shot blocked just before they took the lead on 22 minutes when attacker Ante Macukat capitalised on a defensive mistake and slammed the ball into the bottom corner.
Striker Husko Nuhanovic tested Northern Ireland keeper Luke Bellingham before Northern Ireland’s Conleth O’Neill produced a lovely curler which Slovenia keeper Lan Ambroz managed to keep out with his fingertips.
However, in the 41st minute, O’Neill would not be denied. The attacker latched on to a clearance by the Slovenia defence and jigged his way past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
On the stroke of half-time O’Neill combined well with captain Michael Mulholland but O’Neill’s shot was blocked.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U15s 1-1 Slovenia U15s
On 50 minutes O’Neill just failed to connect with an excellent pass from Alfie Davidson. Then Slovenia had a couple of chances in quick succession. Substitute Ishak Gazibara forced a good save out of Bellingham before Aron Vucic guided an effort past the post.
Northern Ireland substitute Luke Wells had a shot from distance which was saved by the Slovenia keeper before Mulholland put a shot over the bar.
Slovenia forced a series of corners before Northern Ireland thought they had scored again. A JB Camlin free-kick was headed across goal by a Slovenia defender. Noah Stewart headed the clearance towards Mulholland who flicked the ball superbly past the Slovenia keeper into the net. However, the referee harshly adjudged that the striker was in an offside position when the ball fell to him.
Minutes later Ambroz saved a Mulholland near-post strike as Northern Ireland continued to press. Substitute Eoghan Mallon fed Davidson whose shot from just outside the area was kept out by Ambroz.
Unfortunately there was a sucker punch for Michael McClean’s team in added time. Gazibara delivered a corner which was headed on by a Northern Ireland defender, however Vucic was lurking at the back post and he stroked the ball home to make it 2-1 to the Slovenians, and that’s how it finished.
Next up for the U15s is their third and final game in the tournament. It’s on Sunday (26 October) against Latvia, with an 11am kick-off local time.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U15s 1-2 Slovenia U15s
Line-ups
Northern Ireland: Luke Bellingham, Luca Lavery, JD Camlin, Cohen Ennis, Noah Stewart, Calum Evans, Conleth O’Neill, Will Megaw, Michael Mulholland (captain), Alfie Davidson, Noah Henderson.
Substitutes: Kaysan Braniff, Daithi Holleran, Will Davison, Eoghan Mallon, Daniel Clarke, Luke Wells, Aiden Hamill, Corey McCartney, Michael Ihmig.
Slovenia: Lan Ambroz, Ali Kaan, Lai Zavrsnik, Filip Sirec (captain), Malik Mahmutovic, Hugo Hajdinjak, Ante Macukat, Emin Mesanovic, Husko Nuhanovic, Aleks Radiskovic, Aron Vucic.
Substitutes: Voranc Human (GK), Gael Macak, Nik Podrenk, Stefan Capin, Ishak Gazibara, Nino Kemperi, Ziga Svetec, Nino Perkovic, Liam Kristan.
