Ciaron Brown scored his first international goals as a pair to help a young Northern Ireland side stun Ukraine 3-0 and go clear at the top of Nations League Group B2. Brown, the only player over 24 in Michael O'Neill's starting line-up, scrambled in early before Isaac Price doubled the lead in the 22nd minute at the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho in Trnava, Slovakia.
Brown's second came just after the hour in bizarre fashion - the 28-year-old Oxford defender flicked on Pierce Charles' free-kick and Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk let the bouncing ball through his legs. On paper this was the hardest game in the group, away to a side ranked 37 places above Northern Ireland, but they brushed Ukraine aside to move onto seven points from three games, still yet to concede.
This was the first competitive meeting since Northern Ireland's win at Euro 2016. O'Neill's side, with an average age of 22 (the youngest post-war starting XI), featured 19-year-old Kieran Morrison on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Liverpool, who provided an assist for Price's goal. Ukraine, making 10 changes, rarely threatened after falling behind.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing