On Saturday, Northern Ireland drew 0-0 with Belarus. Goalkeeper Pierce Charles made his debut for the Green and White Army – keeping his first clean sheet.
For Michael O’Neill's men, a remarkable 5-0 victory over Bulgaria put Northern Ireland at the summit of Group C3 by a single point. Isaac Price stole the show, scoring a hat-trick for his side.
Speaking after the game, Michael O’Neill savoured a “special night” for his team: “When you create chances in the game there’s nights when you don’t take them and nights when you do and we were very clinical,” O’Neill said. “But it was more the quality of the play and the nature of the chances again which was most pleasing.
“The attitude of the team was terrific, the intensity and the quality of their play. Everyone was right at the top of their game. As a manager, I’m very proud of the performance.
“The reaction to Saturday is very important. One of the things I’ve been concerned about with such a young team is can they play the second game and how they adapt to play the second game and every answer I got tonight was very positive.”
For the Republic, there was jubilation in the stands as a late Robbie Brady goal gave Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland their first win of the Nations League campaign in a 1-2 victory, after Liam Scales’ header drew the sides level.
However, the Boys in Green were unable to beat group-leaders Greece in Athens on Sunday night. Goals from Anastasios Bakasetas and Petros Mantolas gave the Greeks back-to-back wins.
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