Northern Ireland delivered one of their best away displays under Michael O’Neill by securing a 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Slovakia in the Nations League. Ciaron Brown found the net twice, including his maiden international goal, while Isaac Price added another in a superb opening half.
Brown’s second goal arrived in bizarre circumstances in the 61st minute. Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk charged out towards the edge of his penalty area, failed to connect with his header, and could only watch as the ball trickled over the goal line.
The win maintains Northern Ireland’s unbeaten record in the Nations League and keeps them at the summit of Group B2 with two victories and a draw from their first three fixtures. They can complete the initial set of four matches without a loss if they steer clear of defeat against Georgia at Windsor Park on Monday.
Northern Ireland makes flying start in Ukraine clash
Having claimed their first Nations League away win in Tbilisi, Northern Ireland started brightly against Ukraine, with Jamie Donley and Terry Devlin each having early half opportunities.
The opening goal came from a Kieran Morrison corner. Ruairi McConville headed the ball back across the face of goal, enabling defensive partner Brown to react fastest and prod it over the line for his first international strike.
Northern Ireland maintained their dominance and crafted a flowing attacking move for their second. Morrison drove the ball forward before sending in a cross that Price met with a powerful header. It was the 23-year-old’s 11th international goal and his first in over a year.
Ukraine found it difficult to generate clear chances before the break, with Heorhiy Sudakov and Eduard Sarapiy restricted to attempts from long range. Trai Hume also saw a shot blocked by Illia Zabarnyi in the final minute of the first half.
Ukraine unable to stop Northern Ireland
Ukraine displayed greater attacking ambition after the interval, with Mykola Matviyenko and Sudakov both creating half chances. Nevertheless, Northern Ireland increased their advantage with 29 minutes remaining through another Brown goal.
Brown glanced on a free kick, and Riznyk sprinted out of his goal, only to completely miss the ball. The loose ball continued towards the goal and ultimately rolled over the line to put Northern Ireland 3-0 ahead.
Ukraine nearly found a response when Matviy Ponomarenko’s effort was deflected onto the post by Tom Atcheson. It was not sufficient to alter the outcome, however, as Northern Ireland secured three goals and a clean sheet.
Michael O’Neill’s side now sit three points clear of Hungary and Ukraine at the top of League B2, with Georgia bottom on one point.
Nations League win highlights O’Neill’s new generation
The match evoked memories of Euro 2016, as the two sides met competitively for the first time in 10 years. O’Neill, however, had emphasised that his focus was on the future and on a new generation of players forging their own history.
That approach was evident in his team selection. Nineteen-year-old Morrison made his first competitive start, while the average age of the starting XI was just 22, the youngest Northern Ireland starting team on record since World War Two.
Brown, the oldest player in the XI at 28, opened the scoring in the ninth minute after McConville’s knockdown. Morrison, who is on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Liverpool, then played a key role in the second goal by carrying the ball forward and providing the cross for Price.
Brown’s second goal contained an element of fortune, while McConville again impressed defensively. The defender could have taken the chance to score his first international goal from close range but left the finish for Brown.
Josh Magennis and Paddy McNair, the only two players remaining from the famous Euro 2016 win, came off the bench to help see out the match. Eighteen-year-old Ceadach O’Neill also made his fourth appearance, tying him to Northern Ireland after speculation before the international window about his future.