Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 1-0 to move back to the top of their Nations League group and set up a promotion decider away to Hungary on Tuesday.
Terry Devlin settled the contest in the 68th minute, scoring his first international goal with a long-range strike that left Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin unable to reach it.
The result keeps Michael O’Neill’s side on course for promotion to League A. A draw in Budapest would be enough to secure it, while defeat would still guarantee Northern Ireland a play-off in March.
Northern Ireland have also secured a place in pot two for next month’s Euro 2028 draw and remain the only team in the competition yet to concede, having recorded a fifth successive clean sheet.
Ukraine were eliminated from contention after suffering a third consecutive defeat, their first run of three losses in six years. Northern Ireland had briefly surrendered top spot in Group B2 after Hungary beat Georgia 2-0 earlier on Saturday.
The match was an open one from the outset, with Northern Ireland having a first-half goal disallowed after VAR ruled Jamie Donley fractionally offside. Isaac Price’s shot had deflected off Ethan Galbraith before falling to Donley, who finished from close range.
Donley went close again soon afterwards, but Trubin blocked his effort at the near post and then denied Shea Charles from the rebound. Ukraine responded on the counter-attack, although Olexiy Kashchuk’s low shot was kept out by Pierce Charles.
Northern Ireland missed another opportunity early in the second half when Galbraith delayed his pass to Price, whose eventual effort lacked the power to beat Trubin. Trai Hume then forced the goalkeeper to turn a low shot around the post.
From the resulting corner, Galbraith laid the ball back for Devlin, whose composed strike from distance provided the decisive moment. The Portsmouth midfielder has now scored four times for his club this season before opening his international account.
Pierce Charles was required to make a crucial intervention late on, steering Danylo Sikan’s firm shot from inside the area around the post to preserve the victory.
O’Neill will not be in the dugout for Tuesday’s match after he was booked for his reaction to a foul on Ciaron Brown. Donley had also been cautioned after protesting when Hume was left bleeding from a head injury, meaning both will serve suspensions in Budapest.
