Northern Ireland face Luxembourg at the Stade de Luxembourg in a decision Nations League C clash. A draw will be enough for Michael O’Neill’s men to win the group and secure promotion to Nations League B.
Read more
Luxembourg
0
:
1
NI
Isaac Price
20′
Brodie Spencer jumps into a tackle on Martins. It’s late and careless. A deserved yellow card.
Isaac Price curls a shot towards goal from 20 yards. The Luxembourg keeper spills it, only to regather it before Dion Charles has the chance to pounce. Dion collides with the keeper, who isn’t best pleased…he probably shouldn’t have dropped it then.
Since the goal, Luxembourg have played some tidy football and tried to get forward where possible.
There’s a long way to go here.
Gelson Rodrigues hits the wall. The ball bounces straight back to him and he unleashes a powerful half volley…but it’s well wide
It’s a free-kick to Luxembourg in a decent position, maybe 30 yards from goal. Foul by Ali McCann.
Elsewhere in this group, Bulgaria lead Belarus 1-0 with a goal from Vasil Panayotov
Northern Ireland fans are making all the noise inside this compact stadium.
Shea Charles hits a spectacular half volley from 25 yards. It’s high and wide.
“Isaac Price, Isaac Price, Isaac, Isaac Price…nanananananana” sing the GAWA
Northern Ireland lead 1-0. Shea Charles threads a pass into the feet of Dion Charles, who plays in Isaac Price…
Price sweeps the ball into the bottom corner of the net from around 12 yards
GET IN!
Ethan Gailbraith feeds a perfectly weighted ball across the front of goal…but Isaac Price doesn’t get there in time. That was a chance
Trai Hume whips a cross into the box from deep, but it’s easily held by the goalkeeper
Gelson Rodrigues tries his luck from 20 yards, but Luxembourg’s record goalscorer drags it wide.
Shea Charles plays it short to Ethan Galbraith, but the midfielder overhits his cross and it goes out for a goal kick
It’s a corner for Northern Ireland.
Pierce Charles just produced a superb pass that played Dion Charles through on goal, but a Luxembourg defender gets back to make a vital tackle
I’m in danger of getting a little bit ahead of myself here, but if Northern Ireland do win their group it will be a big step towards securing a play-off spot for the World Cup.
The best four Nations League group winners that don’t finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group will advance to the play-offs.
Northern Ireland will likely be ranked 12th on that list, but those group winners include the likes of Spain and England who will coast their groups.
Shea Charles pings a ball into the box for Conor Bradley, but the Liverpool man takes an air shot. He was offside anyway
So what do Northern Ireland have to do tonight? It’s simple. A draw will be enough for O’Neill’s men to win the group and secure promotion to Nations League B.