Northern Ireland’s Under-21s registered a comfortable 2-0 win against Malta’s U21s in Belfast tonight.
Tommy Wright’s side, who began their qualification campaign for U21 Euro 2027 with an excellent 1-1 draw away to Georgia last month, were always in control in the qualifier at The Oval.
First half goals from Makenzie Kirk and captain Michael Forbes were enough to give them the three points in the Group F encounter in the 2025-27 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying group stage. The group also features Germany (top seeds), Greece and Latvia.
Wright made four changes to the side that started against the Georgians in September.
Coming in to the team were goalkeeper Stephen McMullan, who was with the seniors last month, along with defenders Conor Barr and Tommy Fogarty as well as winger Liam McStravick.
Dropping to the bench were keeper Fraser Barnsley and midfielder Ryan Donnelly, while defenders Matthew Orr and Tom Atcheson were not available due to injury.
Northern Ireland had the first opportunity when attacker Eoin Kenny tested Malta keeper Hugo Sacco with a low drive.
And they took the lead in the sixth minute when striker Kirk got on the end of a long pass forward from Jonny Russell and nodded the ball past the hesitant keeper.
The game became a bit scrappy before Kirk let fly from distance. His effort went wide of the post. And then midfielder Patrick Kelly had a low drive blocked before Kirk fired a shot over the top.
On 33 minutes Northern Ireland doubled their lead. Liam McStravick whipped a corner into the danger zone and it was met superbly by captain Forbes who hammered the ball into the top corner.
Sacco grabbed the ball at Kirk’s feet as he threatened once again, while McStravick scooped a shot over the top. And then Sacco produced a superb stop to keep out a well-struck Kenny shot.
The start of the second period was a tad scrappy. The first real chance of the half came when Tommy Fogarty met a McStravick corner, however his powerful header flew wide.
Sacco grabbed the ball at Kirk’s feet again as Northern Ireland tried to drive forward against the blanket Maltese defence.
Conor Barr forced a save out of Sacco as the game wore on, while Kirk’s flick shot was easily gathered by the Maltese keeper.
Towards the end of the game Kieran Morrison, Joe Sheridan and Broghan Sewell all made their debuts for Northern Ireland’s U21s.
In the closing stages Shea Kearney and Ceadach O’Neill had efforts on goal, while Sacco saved a close range effort from Barr and another shot from Kenny. And in added time Morrison’s well-struck low shot tested Sacco.
Next up for Wright’s side in the qualifiers is a home game against Germany on Tuesday (14 October). It’s also at The Oval and has a 5.30pm start.
Northern Ireland: Stephen McMullan, Conor Barr, Jonny Russell, Darren Robinson, Michael Forbes (captain), Tommy Fogarty, Shea Kearney, Patrick Kelly, Makenzie Kirk, Eoin Kenny, Liam McStravick.
Substitutes: (used) Ceadach O’Neill, Ryan Donnelly, Kieran Morrison, Joe Sheridan, Broghan Sewell; (unused) Fraser Barnsley (GK), Sam Glenfield, Cole Brannigan, Sean Brown.
Malta: Hugo Sacco, Jake Grech, Nathan Cross, Benjamin Hili, Sven Xerri, Jake Micallef (captain), Jake Azzopardi, Daniel Letherby, Sean Gatt, Shaisen Attard, Gabriel Vella.
Substitutes: (used) Bjorn Buhagiar, Kai Bartolo, Giuseppe Bonanno, Ensell Attard; (not used) Karl Sargent (GK), Finley Ging, Matteo Gambin, Deacon Abela, Antiago De Flavia.
Action from The Oval
