Northern Eire took a giant step in direction of securing promotion again to the second tier of European soccer as second-half objectives from Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles secured a 2-0 Nations League win over Belarus.
Victory in Belfast retains Michael O’Neill’s males two factors away from Bulgaria, and a draw away to Luxembourg on Monday would take them out of League C as Group 3 winners.
After final month’s 5-0 win over Bulgaria this was a lot more durable work and O’Neill’s frustration was apparent late within the first half.
However Ballard headed the hosts in entrance 5 minutes into the second half and 10 minutes later referee Luis Godinho was despatched to the monitor to identify a handball from Kirill Pechenin, permitting Dion Charles to attain his fourth worldwide objective from the penalty spot.
Northern Eire had not beforehand received greater than three in a row at residence since 2016, after they received six, whereas this was a fourth successive clear sheet at residence for the primary time since 2021.
The most important query mark over Northern Eire’s staff choice earlier than the night time was who would begin in objective with Bailey Peacock-Farrell again from damage, however O’Neill caught with teenager Pierce Charles on the night time his brother Shea
captained the facet.
When these two sides met final month in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, Northern Eire dominated the primary half however didn’t take their probabilities, and had been then pissed off after the break as Belarus sat a lot deeper.
It was no shock to see Carlos Alos’ facet go along with the latter tactic from the beginning at Windsor Park, difficult Northern Eire to drive their approach by way of a low block, and it didn’t show straightforward.
Dion Charles prodded over after Pechenin gave away possession contained in the field and Shea Charles brushed the side-netting with a free-kick. Conor Bradley then burst into the field and despatched in a low ball which wanted solely a flick which Dion
Charles couldn’t present.
There have been extra practically moments, not least when Bradley beat three defenders on a run by way of the field however didn’t get a shot away, and it was goalless on the break.
Northern Eire had been instantly on the assault within the second half because the full of life Brodie Spencer crossed from the left, however Dion Charles couldn’t maintain his header down.
Nearly as rapidly there was an opportunity for Aleksandr Martynovich, who fired over after a free-kick, however this Belarus facet have now failed to attain in seven of their final 9, and it was not exhausting to see why.
The breakthrough got here within the fiftieth minute, maybe unsurprisingly from a set-piece. Shea Charles’ nook in some way received past the Belarus defenders on the close to publish, and Ballard – simply again from damage – had a straightforward job to nod residence, scoring his third objective in 5 internationals.
Ten minutes later, Pechenin moved his arms as he blocked Shea Charles’s free-kick within the field, and after checking the screens Godinho awarded Northern Eire their first penalty in 33 video games, which Dion Charles duly tucked away.
Isaac Worth, whose hat-trick lit up Windsor Park in opposition to Bulgaria, virtually scored an excellent third within the 79th minute, latching on to a flick from substitute Josh Magennis and sending a 20-yard shot simply large of the publish.
Pierce Charles had a few tough moments coping with excessive balls within the closing phases however the 19-year-old emerged along with his third clear sheet in as many worldwide appearances, whereas Brighton U21s defender Ruairi McConville got here on to make his debut 5 minutes from time.
{The teenager} might be wanted once more on Monday as Ciaron Brown picked up a disputed late yellow card for time-wasting which is able to rule him out of the journey to Luxembourg.
What’s subsequent?
Northern Eire host Belarus on Friday November 15 as their Nations League marketing campaign continues.
