Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 3-0 to open three-point Nations League lead

Ciaron Brown scored twice as Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 3-0 in Trnava, Slovakia. He opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a knockdown by Ruairi McConville. A cross from Kieran Morrison, the 19-year-old making his first start, led to Isaac Price’s goal before Brown headed in again with 30 minutes left. [1]

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill singled out centre-backs McConville and Tom Atcheson afterwards, telling BBC Sport: “They have no ceiling, to be honest.” He said the two Championship players were ready for a higher level. [1]

BBC Sport put the starting side’s average age at 22, the youngest recorded for Northern Ireland since the Second World War. Brown was the only starter older than 25, and the win brought a third successive clean sheet. [1]