Nations League - Group B2
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)
Ciaron Brown bundles in first Northern Ireland goal and Isaac Price adds second in fine first half
Ukraine mistakes hands Brown a second and NI a third in second half
NI top of group with seven points from three games
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Right, we will call it a night there.
Thanks for joining us this evening for a game which will live long in the memory as Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia in Group B2 of the Nations League.
You can read Andy Gray's report from the match here and stay tuned on the BBC Sport website and app for reaction and highlights.
Thank you for joining us tonight and enjoy the rest of your Friday night!
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Unsurprisingly, Ciaron Brown tops the charts with a really impressive 9.13, Ruairi McConville comes second and Isaac Price third.
Image source, BBC Sport NIFT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Here is a look at Ukraine's first...
Image source, BBC SPORT NIFT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Before we wrap up, let's have a look at the results of the Player Rater.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Fantastic performance. Exciting times for NI supporters. Great to watch and who knows where your young team will take you. Well done from a Wales fan.
Lee, Croesyceiliog
Michael O'Neil and Norn Iron, a match made in heaven!
Richard, Edinburgh
What a wonderful performance, the whole team deserve so much credit, average age 22 tonight, the future is so bright for our wee country
Richard, Belfast
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Stuart Dallas
Former Leeds midfielder on BBC Two NI
Everyone just seems to be in a really good place and everything just seems really, really good at the minute.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland goal scorer Isaac Price speaking to BBC Sport NI: "As I said the other night, the chances have been coming and I've been getting in the positions and tonight luckily I was in the position to take it.
On Kieran Morrison, who provided the assist for his goal: "Thought he was really good, a different threat than what we have had before. A really good crosser of the ball and he has come in and given the manager a headache with a game on Monday.
On Michael O'Neill's thoughts after the game: "He's really pleased it's not easy to come here and win 3-0, not many teams do that to them. They had opportunities but we dealt with them well and a good team performance.
On momentum: "There is big togetherness in the squad, we're all loving it and we love coming away. The games are coming thick and fast and we're building momentum."
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Jim Magilton
Cliftonville manager on BBC Two NI
They hadn't won an away game before [in the Nations League]. Now two in a row. It tells you something about the group of players. They're learning.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Stuart Dallas
Former Leeds midfielder on BBC Two NI
Outstanding from start to finish. You couldn't ask for better. Every player knew their job and Michael got it spot on with his selection and tactics.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill speaking to BBC Sport NI: "We played a very good team tonight and we had to be really well set up and the team was extremely well prepared, the staff did a really good job.
"Everything fell into place, we scored from the early set piece and the second goal was brilliant. We required a lot of discipline as well, another clean sheet and some really good performances right through the squad.
On Ciaron Brown scoring twice: "He plays his football in League One but he has demonstrated he is better than that. He brings a lot to the team."
On Tom Atcheson and Ruairi McConville's displays: "They have no ceiling, both playing in the Championship at the minute, but they can go to the next level. They were brilliant."
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Great result with such a young squad. Credit to Michael O’Neill, the coaching staff and the team. Fantastic to watch.
Stuart, Dunfermline
This young team came of age tonight. Fantastic victory and a clean sheet to boot. As the late Malcolm Brodie might have written "Magnifico, magnifico magnifico. "
Billy, Belfast
Maturity way beyond their years...three clean sheets... this wee team is going places
Andrew, Berkshire
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland captain Trai Hume on BBC Sport NI: "I thought it was a great overall performance and 3-0, you could not really ask for much more.
"I thought on the set piece and break we were a big threat tonight and that was the most important thing."
On goal scorer Ciaron Brown: "I can't believe Ruairi [McConville] let the third goal go in; I would have taken it.
"He was actually saying before the game that he hadn't scored for NI and he scored so I am glad he got two, he has been waiting for a while."
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland have now won back-to-back games away from home for the first time since September 2021.
Certainly two different matches, but both just as enjoyable for NI fans.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
The most relaxed I've felt watching a NI away game ever against a decent side. Never, ever, felt in doubt. Totally brilliant performance. The present is brilliant and the future is very bright. Top of the group!
Neil, London
People can be relaxed during football?!
Not a concept I am familiar with but fair play, Neil.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland goal scorer Ciaron Brown speaking to BBC Sport NI: "It's unbelievable, I have waited a long, long time for my first international goal and to get both on one night, I didn't expect it. I'm buzzing.
On the goals: I've gone up for a long free-kick and I've just poked it home. The second one, I've tried to flick it on and it somehow went in.
On NI's defensive solidity: "After the last two games it has given the defence and the team a lot of confidence. Three clean sheets in a row and we pride ourselves on that."
Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Absolute scenes.
Image source, Press EyeFT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Jim Magilton
Cliftonville manager on BBC Two NI
The balance of the team was perfect. The tactical know-how brings Michael to another level in the international game.
They're patient, they didn't lose shape, wait for chances and took them when they came.
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
Great performance they delivered to be top of their group and they will get better
Gary, Edinburgh
Excellent performance! Here's hoping we see these lads at the Euros in a couple years!
Aaron
Congratulations Northern Ireland three games, seven points & GD +4. Group leaders, great support, and singing
Con, Hove
Ukraine v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)
A reminder to let us know how you rated the performances of the players on both sides tonight.
It will be very hard to pick NI's top players after a night like this but use the Player Rater here.
Image source, BBC SportUkraine v Northern Ireland player rater
FT: Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
It's as close to perfection as a performance as I've seen in many years from Northern Ireland.
Highlights: Northern Ireland top of group with seven points from three games
Northern Ireland produced one of their best away performances under manager Michael O'Neill to beat Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia in the Nations League.
Ciaron Brown opened the scoring with his first international goal and Isaac Price headed home a second in a superb first half for Northern Ireland.
Brown scored his second of the game in bizarre circumstances in the 61st minute when goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk missed his header from the edge of the area and the ball rolled in.
The win maintains Northern Ireland's unbeaten start to the Nations League, and they top Group B2 with two wins and a draw from their three matches.
They can end the opening set of four games unbeaten if they avoid defeat against Georgia at Windsor Park on Monday.
After picking up their first away win in the Nations League in Tbilisi, Jamie Donley and Terry Devlin had half chances as O'Neill's side made a bright start.
The breakthrough came when Kieran Morrison's corner was headed back across goal by Ruairi McConville, and defensive partner Brown reacted quickest to poke the ball over the line.
The visitors' dream start continued with a superb, flowing move, which ended in Morrison's cross being met by Price's powerful header - an 11th international goal for the 23-year-old.
Ukraine, for their part, were restricted to long-range efforts in the opening 45 minutes through Heorhiy Sudakov and Eduard Sarapiy, and captain Trai Hume had an effort blocked by Illia Zabarnyi in the final minute of the half.
Mykola Matviyenko and Sudakov had half chances for Ukraine after the restart but the match was sealed with 29 miutes left when Brown flicked on a free-kick and Riznyk came racing out of his goal but missed the ball, which trickled over the line.
Matviy Ponomarenko's effort was deflected onto the post by Tom Atcheson as Ukraine looked for a response, but three goals and a clean sheet made it a dream night for Northern Ireland.
O'Neill's side are three points clear of Hungary and Ukraine at the top of League B2, while Georgia are bottom on one point.
Who has 'no ceiling' as Northern Ireland shine in Nations League?
Kieran Morrison rewarded Michael O'Neill's faith in the teenager with an assist in Slovakia
While the fixture drew recollections and memories of the Euro 2016 finals for fans and the media as the sides met competitively for the first time in 10 years, O'Neill was adamant that his focus was on the future and the new generation of players writing their own history.
That was reflected in his selection as he handed 19-year-old winger Morrison his first competitive start, while the average age of the starting team was just 22 - the youngest for Northern Ireland on record since World War Two.
It was fitting for Brown, the oldest player in the starting XI at 28, to find the opener with his first international goal in the ninth minute.
The Oxford United defender, who has been quietly superb in this international window, managed to poke the ball home off the upright from McConville's knockdown.
Morrison, on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Liverpool, rewarded O'Neill's faith and was key to the second goal, as he carried the ball forward and played in the cross which allowed Price to score his first goal in more than a year.
But the night belonged to Brown, whose second goal was the slice of luck that had so often avoided Northern Ireland in recent years.
Credit had to go to defensive partner McConville, again superb in defence, who had the chance to smash home his first international goal on the line but he left it for Brown to take the plaudits.
In an convenient nod to Euro 2016, Josh Magennis and Paddy McNair - the only two remaining players from the famous win - came off the bench to see the game out, while 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill came on for a fourth cap which tied him down to Northern Ireland amid pre-window speculation about his international future.
Sweden and France were the only teams to beat Ukraine in the past 12 months but they had no answer to MIchael O'Neill's side, who were the better team from the first whistle in Trnava.
The win is also NI's biggest away victory since a 4-1 win in Lithuania in September 2021 and marks a third consecutive clean sheet in the campaign.
Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to go through the international break unbeaten when they host Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's Georgia, who lost 1-0 in Hungary, in Belfast on Monday.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| |
4 Israel | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 4 |
| |
3 Belarus | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
|
4 San Marino | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Montenegro | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
|
2 Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|
3 Armenia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
|
4 Latvia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| |
2 Moldova | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
|
3 Faroe Islands | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
4 Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| |
2 Luxembourg | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
|
3 Estonia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
4 Bulgaria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Malta | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|
2 Gibraltar | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
3 Andorra | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
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| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Lithuania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
|
2 Azerbaijan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
3 Liechtenstein | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
|
Manager:Andrea Maldera
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Michael O'Neill
Formation:5 - 4 - 1
Manager:Andrea Maldera
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Michael O'Neill
Formation:5 - 4 - 1
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