Northern Ireland’s Under-17s defeated Azerbaijan in a Euro qualifier staged in Germany thanks to a second half flurry of goals.
Competition
U17 Euro 2027 Qualifiers Round 1
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U17s 4-0 Azerbaijan U17s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: O’Kane (52’, 80’), Vaugh (74’, 77’)
Venue
DFB Campus, Frankfurt am Main
Date
14 November 2026
Team News
Northern Ireland’s Under-17s are facing Germany, Lithuania and Azerbaijan in a U17 Euro 2027 Qualifiers round one mini tournament in Germany this month.
For their second game in the group, National Youth Team Coach Kris Lindsay made four changes to the 11 that started the first group game which saw Northern Ireland lose out to Lithuania by four goals to two.
Ciaran McCloskey replaced Matthew Belshaw in nets, while midfielder Alfie Jones and attackers Jay Forsythe and Padai O’Kane came in to the side. They replaced midfielder Connor Wilson, injured striker Michael Mulholland and attacker Cillian Murray.
How it happened
Northern Ireland forced a couple of corners early on but could not capitalise on them.
Striker Paidi O’Kane got in behind the Azerbaijan defence, however he was flagged offside. And soon after fellow attacker Finn Reilly also drifted offside during a promising attack.
Clearcut chances were few and far between in the first half, although Azerbaijan defender Ruslan Guliyev was not far off target with a snapshot just before the half-hour mark.
It was a niggly, scrappy affair in the first half, with both sides conceding plenty of free-kicks.
As half-time approached an Alfie Pollock free-kick found midfielder Adam Nelson and his effort was pushed away by Azerbaijan keeper and captain Bilal Hajiyev. And then O’Kane had a shot blocked.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U17s 0-0 Azerbaijan U17s
It was a whole different ball game after the break.
Although Northern Ireland keeper Ciaran McCloskey was called into action to thwart a Yusif Guliyev effort on 47 minutes, it was pretty much all Northern Ireland after that.
They took the lead five minutes later when O’Kane (pictured) found the back of the net.
Substitute Cillian Murray missed an opportunity and Reilly’s attempt drifted wide before Murray had another shot blocked.
Northern Ireland kept pressing and they doubled their lead in the 74th minute. Liam Kelly provided the assist and substitute Noah Vaugh applied the finish.
Three minutes later Vaugh grabbed his second of the game to make it 3-0.
Lindsay’s side did not let up. O’Kane hit the woodwork and then grabbed his second of the game to put Northern Ireland four up.
In added time Vaugh had an opportunity for his hat-trick, however Azerbaijan keeper Hajiyev managed to keep his effort out.
Northern Ireland’s final game in the group will see them take on the Germans on Tuesday (17 November). That game at the DFB Campus has a 10am GMT start. Germany defeated Lithuania 4-0 today.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U17s 4-0 Azerbaijan U17s
Line-ups
Northern Ireland: Ciaran McCloskey, Alfie Pollock, JB Camlin, Alfie Mulvenna, Daniel McCarron (captain), Adam Nelson, Liam Kelly, Alfie Jones, Padai O’Kane, Finn Reilly, Jay Forsythe.
Substitutes: (used) Cillian Murray, Jamie McCreery, Connor Wilson, Noah Vaugh, Calum Evans; (unused) Matthew Belshaw (GK), Oisin O’Brien, Cohen Ennis.
Azerbaijan: Bilal Hajiyev (captain), Vagif Mammadli, Rasul Balakishiyev, Jihad Sadigov, Ruslan Guliyev, Ahad Hajizada, Nazim Aliyev, Shikar Shikar, Yusif Guliyev, Yusif Orujaliyev, Gafar Babayev.
Substitutes: (used) Tunar Bayramov, Subhan Alizada, Nijat Ahamadzada, Daniil Rajabov, Emil Guliyev; (unused) Ulvi Abbasli (GK), Turan Ramazanov, Vagif Nabiyev, Tunar Asgarzade.
