Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 3-0 in Trnava to move top of Nations League Group B2, with Ciaron Brown scoring twice in a remarkable victory for Michael O’Neill’s young side.
Brown, the only player in Northern Ireland’s starting line-up aged over 24, opened the scoring before Isaac Price added a second in the 22nd minute. Brown completed his international double shortly after the hour when Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk allowed a bouncing ball to slip through his legs.
The result gives Northern Ireland seven points from their opening three matches since returning to the second tier of the Nations League. They are still yet to concede and will face Georgia in Belfast on Monday.
It was Northern Ireland’s first competitive meeting with Ukraine since their 2-0 victory at Euro 2016. Despite Ukraine being ranked 37 places higher, O’Neill’s side produced a controlled and disciplined performance to secure one of their most significant recent results.
O’Neill made three changes from the goalless draw with Hungary. Ethan Galbraith and Callum Marshall were absent for personal reasons, while Justin Devenny and Patrick Kelly dropped to the bench as Brodie Spencer, Terry Devlin and Kieran Morrison came into the team.
Morrison, 19, helped make this Northern Ireland’s youngest post-war starting XI, with the average age 22. The Liverpool loanee, currently at Sheffield Wednesday, was involved in the opener as his corner was headed back across goal by Ruairi McConville for Brown to prod home, despite Illia Zabarnyi’s attempt to clear from the line.
Ukraine enjoyed plenty of possession but found it difficult to break through. Georgiy Sudakov tested Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles in the 19th minute, but his effort was comfortably dealt with.
Northern Ireland then struck on the counter-attack. Morrison delivered a first-time ball into the area and Price met it powerfully at the far post for his side’s second goal, giving the teenager an assist on his first competitive international appearance.
Charles later kept out a fierce effort from Eduard Sarapii, while Ukraine continued to struggle for clear openings despite Northern Ireland spending long periods defending. Mykola Matviyenko went close soon after the restart, but the hosts’ response faded quickly.
Brown’s second goal arrived in the 61st minute in bizarre circumstances. He moved to flick on Charles’ free-kick from inside the Northern Ireland half, but the ball bounced awkwardly and ran through Riznyk’s legs before crossing the line.
Ukraine substitute Matvii Ponomarenko struck the outside of the post, yet Northern Ireland remained in control. Ceadach O’Neill came on late to make his fourth appearance for the national team, ending speculation over a possible switch to the Republic of Ireland.
