Northern Ireland Triumph 2-0 Over Luxembourg in Nations League Opener: McNair and Ballard Score
Northern Ireland defeated Luxembourg 2-0 to start their UEFA Nations League season on September 5, 2024.
Michael O’Neill’s team got off to a good start at Windsor Park, Belfast, thanks to goals from Paddy McNair and Daniel Ballard.
The only letdown for Michael O’Neill’s team was not adding to their total as they controlled their first Windsor Park game in ten months, with both goals coming in the first 17 minutes.
In the brief history of this competition, it was only Northern Ireland’s second victory in 17 attempts, but it builds on the momentum of their recent better performances as they attempt to escape League C. Shea Charles threatened from a corner after just seventy seconds, demonstrating how quickly Northern Ireland was able to establish their dominance.
After Luxembourg failed to clear a free-kick, Dion Charles then struck a bouncing effort over the bar, and Northern Ireland’s early pressure paid off as they took the lead with eleven minutes remaining.
On the evening of his 70th cap, McNair scored his seventh goal for Northern Ireland after Ciaron Brown’s long throw from the right was cleared by Ballard, who battled for a flick-on at the near post. McNair’s effort went into the left corner of the net.
Despite having the early advantage, O’Neill’s team did not back down. Conor Bradley was taken down precisely on the brink of the box after winning a scrum with Dirk Carlson for the ball down the right.
Ballard arrived just in time to turn in George Saville’s low free kick towards the near post, scoring his first goal for Windsor Park.
The brilliant Bradley dribbled his way into the area before Christopher Martins snatched the ball away for a corner as the Liverpool player was about to shoot, but it was only a matter of moments before halftime when Northern Ireland threatened again.
The night’s captain, Trai Hume, received the ball from the ensuing corner on the edge of the box, but his long-range attempt went just wide. In any case, Ballard went into the book after the whistle had already blown for a foul in the build-up.
Josh Magennis, who was awarded his 80th cap, replaced Dion Charles to bolster O’Neill’s front line at the half. A few seconds after the restart, they were attacking again, as Isaac Price’s volley from Hume’s cross went just wide.
Price’s low cross was just in front of Magennis, who may have been expecting to glide in at the far post after Luxembourg foolishly gave up possession. Soon after, Hume missed the mark with a shot that he took from the box’s edge.
O’Neill then turned to 26-year-old Jamal Lewis, who had only arrived in Belfast on Wednesday after flying to Brazil to finalize his loan transfer from Newcastle to Sao Paulo. Lewis was Callum Marshall’s replacement.
In the 66th minute, Bradley broke the offside trap to receive a feed from Hume and had a great opportunity to score a third, but he pulled his shot wide of the goal.
On the other side, Gerson Rodrigues attempted a near-post header from Mathias Olesen’s corner, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell stopped it.
That was a rare instance of defensive anxiety, but in the 77th minute, Peacock-Farrell and McNair collided while vying for the same ball on the edge of the box, and it was fortunate that Olesen missed the open goal with his shot.
However, Northern Ireland emerged victorious from the match, and in stoppage time, Ross McCausland’s attempt to score his first goal for his country was thwarted by Luxembourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris, who saved it.
