Northern Ireland produced an outstanding performance to defeat Ukraine 3-0 in the UEFA Nations League tonight.
A double from Ciaron Brown and a goal from Isaac Price secured the impressive victory in what was a top of the table clash in League B Group 2.
Michael O’Neill’s side went into the match as underdogs but they were top dogs at Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava.
Due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war the Ukrainians have to play their ‘home’ games away from their homeland, however they had plenty of support at the match in Slovakia.
But it was the 700 travelling Northern Ireland fans in the stadium who were celebrating at the end of the game.
While the goals tally was impressive, Northern Ireland showed incredible defensive discipline and worked their socks off as Ukraine dominated possession. It was the third clean sheet of the B2 campaign.
The win means Northern Ireland are top of B2 with seven points from three games. Hungary, who defeated Georgia 1-0 in Budapest tonight, are now second on four points, ahead of Ukraine on goal difference. Georgia have one point to date.
For the game in Trnava the Northern Ireland boss made three changes to the team that started the 0-0 draw with Hungary on Monday night.
In came defenders Brodie Spencer and Terry Devlin along with attacking midfielder Kieran Morrison. Dropping out were midfielders Ethan Galbraith, Patrick Kelly and Justin Devenny.
Northern Ireland made a bright start in tonight’s encounter, which was part three of a UNL quadruple header in September/October.
Jamie Donley had the first attempt on goal, sweeping a shot wide of the post in the third minute. Then Terry Devlin had a shot blocked.
And they took the lead on nine minutes. Captain Trai Hume delivered a corner to the back post where Ruairi McConville headed the ball towards goal. It went through Donley’s legs and Ciaran Brown was on hand to poke the ball home. It was his first international goal in his 33rd appearance for his country.
Ukraine’s Georgiy Sudakov fired in a low shot but Pierce Charles held on to the ball.
Northern Ireland doubled their lead on 22 minutes thanks to a superb counter attack. Shea Charles slipped the ball to Brodie Spencer down the right flank and he played it back to Kieran Morrison, who delivered a superb cross into the area. It was met by Isaac Price who rose superbly to head the ball into the net.
McConville headed clear as Ukraine threatened before Charles produced an excellent save to keep out a blaster from Eduard Sarapil. Moments later Illia Zabarnyi produced a dangerous cross which travelled across the face of the Northern Ireland goal.
Sudakov smashed a shot over the bar as Ukraine tried to respond.
A Brown long throw into the area was met by McConville. He had to stoop to head the ball and his effort went wide of the post.
Morrison combined well with Spencer down the right, but Spencer’s deflected cross was clutched by Ukraine keeper Dmytro Riznyk.
In added time Hume had a goal-bound volley blocked by the Ukrainian defence.
At the start of the second half Mykola Matviyenko flicked a shot inches past the post as Ukraine pressed and the Northern Ireland defence dropped deep.
Price delivered a dangerous cross to the back post, however the ball was eventually cleared, while Spencer sliced a shot well wide.
Brown headed clear superbly as Ukraine captain Andriy Yarmolenko drifted into the area and looked to get on the end of a cross, and then Sudakov smashed the ball over the top.
On the hour mark Northern Ireland extended their lead when Brown grabbed his second of the night – and his second international goal.
Pierce Charles delivered a free-kick towards the opposition’s penalty area. Brown flicked the ball on with his head at the edge of the area. His header was misjudged by Riznyk and the ball rolled between his legs and trickled over the line.
Ukraine substitute Matvii Ponomarenko’s low drive smacked off the post as Ukraine tried to get back into the game.
Substitute Paddy McNair lashed the ball over the bar as Northern Ireland pushed once more.
In added time fellow substitute Ceadach O’Neill picked up a loose ball and raced forward, however he unfortunately lost his footing as he bore down on goal.
But by that stage the celebrations were already well under way among the GAWA in the stands.
Next up for Northern Ireland in B2 is a home game against Georgia on Monday (7.45pm kick-off).
Ukraine: Dmytro Riznyk, Valeriy Bondar, Georgiy Sudakov, Illia Zabarnyi, Eduard Sarapil, Mykola Matviyenko, Volodymyr Brazhko, Oleh Ocheretko, Andriy Yarmolenko (captain), Viktor Tsygankov, Roman Yaremchuk.
Substitutes: (used) Yehor Nazaryna, Danylo Sikan, Oleksandr Zubkov, Matvii Ponomarenko, Oleksandr Nazarenko; (unused) Georgiy Yermakov (GK), Anatoliy Trubin (GK), Illia Krupskyi, Taras Mykhavko, Mykola Shaparenko.
Northern Ireland: Pierce Charles, Brodie Spencer, Terry Devlin, Tom Atcheson, Ruairi McConville, Ciaron Brown, Trai Hume (captain), Shea Charles, Jamie Donley, Isaac Price, Kieran Morrison.
Substitutes: (used) Justin Devenny, Josh Magennis, Patrick Kelly, Paddy McNair, Ceadach O’Neill; (unused) Conor Hazard, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Jordan Thompson, Dion Charles, Paul Smyth, Michael Forbes, Braiden Graham.
Action from Slovakia
