Northern Ireland’s Under-19s defeated Kazakhstan by a goal to nil in a Euro qualifier staged in Romania. Ceadach O’Neill scored from the penalty spot.
Competition
U19 Euro 2026 Elite Round Qualifiers
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U19s 1-0 Kazakhstan U19s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Ceadach O’Neill (56’ pen)
Venue
Romanian Football Federation (FRF) Football Centre, Buftea
Date
31 March 2026
Team News
Northern Ireland Under-19s boss Gareth McAuley made three changes to the side that started the 0-0 draw against Romania in the second of three elite round qualifiers for U19 Euro 2026.
In came defenders Senan Devine and Alfie Mitchell along with midfielder Jack Doherty.
Dropping to the bench for the Group 5 mini tournament match were defenders Broghan Sewell and Keevan Hawthorne along with midfielder Joe Sheridan.
How it happened
Northern Ireland had the first big chance of the game. On four minutes captain Blaine McClure fired a free-kick into the area. As it was being cleared striker George Feeney was knocked over by a Kazakh defender and the ref immediately pointed to the spot.
McClure stepped up to take the spot kick. His penalty was pushed out by Kazakh keeper Sayatkhan Kussainov and then the midfielder stroked the rebound wide of the post.
Kazakhstan, who defeated Romania 2-0 and lost 3-0 to Ukraine in their first two Group 5 matches, then pushed forward, with captain Azamat Tuyakbayev shooting wide and having an effort blocked.
Fellow attacker Ismail Bekbolat was next to try his luck. He steered an attempt wide and had another blocked.
On 37 minutes a McClure delivery from a free-kick found Luke Matykiewicz inside the area but he could not direct his header on target.
On the stroke of half-time Kazakhstan launched a counter-attack. The ball was fed to Bekbolat who could only shoot straight at Northern Ireland keeper Josh Gracey.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U19s 0-0 Kazakhstan U19s
Substitute Joel Kerr had a shot blocked just after coming on, while Kazakh midfielder Mukhamedali Abish had a couple of opportunities in quick succession.
In the 55th minute another Northern Ireland sub, Ceadach O’Neill, was hauled down inside the penalty area by defender Chingis Kaliyev. And O’Neill stepped up to hammer the penalty into the corner of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process, to make it 1-0.
A few minutes later O’Neill turned his marker inside out before sending a shot just over the bar.
Gracey comfortably saved a header from Kazakh forward Mansur Birkurmanov.
Remarkably Tuyakbayev was only shown a yellow card for a brutal challenge on Matykiewicz. Both Feeney and Kerr were booked for protesting in the aftermath.
Gracey got down well to push away a strike from Kazakhstan substitute Aldiyar Nurgali before defender Daniyar Tashpulatov hammered a shot past the upright.
Tuyakbayev deservedly got a second yellow, and his marching orders, after another rough challenge, this time on Senan Devine.
The final action of the game saw Kussainov save a low blaster from McClure.
The result means Northern Ireland, who narrowly lost 1-0 to table toppers Ukraine in their first match, finished second in their elite round group.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U19s 1-0 Kazakhstan U19s
Line-ups
Northern Ireland: Josh Gracey, Senan Devine, Alfie Mitchell, Luke Matykiewicz, James Simpson, Alfie Wilson, Jack Doherty, Blaine McClure (captain), George Feeney, Dylan Stitt, Max Wilson.
Substitutes: (used) Ceadach O’Neill, Joel Kerr, Joe Sheridan; (unused) Will Murdock (GK), Callum Leacock, Keevan Hawthorne, Broghan Sewell, Paul McGovern, Sean Corry.
Kazakhstan: Sayatkhan Kussainov, Akezhan Kalikulov, Daniyar Tashpulatov, Amirbek Bazarbayev, Chingis Kaliyev, Ali Akylbayev, Mukhamedali Abish, Azamat Tuyakbayev (captain), Mansur Birkurmanov, Ismail Bekbolat, Yevgeniy Petrik.
Substitutes: (used) Karim Makhametzhan, Maksat Abrayev, Aldiyar Nurgali, Abylay Toleukhan; (unused) Abzal Sagyn, Temirlan Torebek, Raimbek Kenesbekov.
