Isaac Price became the first Northern Ireland player to score a hat-trick in 17 years as they hammered Bulgaria at Windsor Park to re-ignite their hopes of winning Group C3 of the Nations League.
The midfielder grabbed a treble to go with further goals from Brodie Spencer and Josh Magennis as Michael O’Neill’s men leapt to the top of the group with two games remaining at home to Belarus and away to Luxembourg.
Relive all the action from our LIVE blog below!
NI
5
:
0
Bulgaria
Josh Magennis
89′
Isaac Price
82′
Brodie Spencer
33′
Isaac Price
30′
Isaac Price
16′
Postgame
Adam McKendry
90’+1
Adam McKendry
Added time
Five more minutes for Northern Ireland to find a sixth!
89′
Adam McKendry
This has been an absolute offensive masterclass from Northern Ireland.
Paul Smyth is the man who starts the move off by charging down the right wing and he pulls it back to Magennis on the penalty spot, who hammers the shot in and off the crossbar for Northern Ireland’s fifth!
86′
Adam McKendry
⚽️ Isaac Price becomes the first @NorthernIreland player to score a hat-trick since David Healy scored three against Liechtenstein in March 2007 #GAWA
It’s a turnover in midfield that presents Price with the chance and the finish is something special, the midfielder looking up and deciding to have a go from nearly 30 yards and picking the top corner to leave Dimitar Mitov with no chance!
What a goal! What a night for Price!
75′
Adam McKendry
74′
Adam McKendry
72′
Adam McKendry
Northern Ireland think they have a fourth goal as a long ball from Pierce Charles sends Conor Bradley haring in behind the defence and down the right wing, he cuts inside and chips it over Dimitar Mitov and, although Valentin Antov is able to race back and clear the ball off the line, Dion Charles is able to tap in the rebound.
Unfortunately, the video referee steps in and it’s ruled out for offside, Bradley was an inch ahead of the defence when he made the run.
64′
Adam McKendry
An outside chance for the defender as a corner is swung in from the right and Spencer manages to get his head to it at the front post, it flashes across the face of goal and wide. Would have had to have been a precise re-direction to get it in the top corner but was worth a try.
55′
Adam McKendry
Shea Charles once again is the man who creates the opportunity as he takes a swipe at the ball and it falls fortuitously for namesake Dion, who goes for goal… but slices his effort just wide!
50′
Adam McKendry
Bulgaria have done just about nothing in this game so far but all of a sudden they have a look at goal as a cross from the right hand side finds Martin Minchev in the box, but his flicked effort goes wide of the goal. Pierce Charles hasn’t even had a save to make yet, including the penalty.
2. Half
Adam McKendry
Half-time
Adam McKendry
45’+1
Adam McKendry
Added time
Three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
45′
Adam McKendry
45′
Adam McKendry
Honestly, it feels like justice served as the Bulgaria captain beats Pierce Charles with his spot kick but it cannons back off the crossbar to safety!
43′
Adam McKendry
It is a caution for the defender for the penalty incident and he’s going to have to be replaced through injury.
41′
Adam McKendry
We’re not quite sure what this penalty is for as there’s a Bulgarian player goes down in the box at a free-kick and all of a sudden the referee is pointing to the spot. We believe it’s for a tug on a shirt from Eoin Toal.
