Northern Ireland 1-0 Ukraine: Devlin's first goal keeps NI top

Terry Devlin's first international goal gave Northern Ireland a 1-0 win over Ukraine at Windsor Park on Saturday and put them back on top of UEFA Nations League Group B2. Michael O'Neill's side, who kept a fifth clean sheet in five group games, now need only a draw away to Hungary on Tuesday to win promotion to League A. More international reports are on BetAlert News.

Match facts

• Result: Northern Ireland 1-0 Ukraine (half-time 0-0)
• Competition: UEFA Nations League B, Group B2, Matchday 5
• Date: Saturday 14 November 2026
• Venue: National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast
• Scorers: Northern Ireland - Devlin 68'
• Red cards: None
• Attendance: 18,225
• Referee: François Letexier (France)
• Next: Hungary v Northern Ireland and Ukraine v Georgia, Tuesday 17 November

How the match unfolded

Northern Ireland thought they had the lead in the 23rd minute. Isaac Price's shot from outside the area hit Ethan Galbraith and dropped for Jamie Donley to finish from close range, but a VAR review ruled the goal out because Donley was offside.

Moments later Anatoliy Trubin kept out Donley's shot from a Devlin cut-back and then the follow-up from Shea Charles. At the other end, Pierce Charles saved with his feet from Olexiy Kashchuk in the 28th minute.

Northern Ireland were the stronger side after the break, though Price's shot early in the second half was comfortably held by Trubin. In the 67th minute Trubin pushed a low drive from Trai Hume around the post, and from the corner that followed the hosts made the breakthrough. After a short routine, Galbraith rolled the ball to Devlin on the edge of the area and the 23-year-old Portsmouth player drove it past Trubin in the 68th minute.

Ukraine coach Andrea Maldera sent on Ihor Krasnopir and Hennadii Synchuk in the 72nd minute and Artem Dovbyk in stoppage time. Donley was booked in the 75th minute and O'Neill in the 82nd, both after protests to the referee. In the closing stages Pierce Charles made a fine save to keep out a low shot from Danylo Sikan and protect the win.

What it means for both teams

UEFA's standings after the completed matchday show Northern Ireland on 11 points, Hungary on 10, Ukraine on four and Georgia on two. Hungary had gone top earlier on Saturday with a 2-0 win in Tbilisi (report).

According to UEFA, Northern Ireland will be promoted if they avoid defeat in Budapest; otherwise they go into the League A/B play-offs. Hungary need to win to go up. It was Northern Ireland's first home win of the campaign after goalless draws with Hungary and Georgia in Belfast, and followed their away wins in Tbilisi (report) and against Ukraine in Trnava. Austria have already sealed promotion from Group B3 (report).

Donley will miss the game in Hungary through suspension after his second booking of the group, BBC Sport and Sky Sports report. "We were aware that Hungary had won the game earlier and we're in a great position," O'Neill told BBC Sport. "It would be great to win the group."

Ukraine have now lost three Nations League games in a row and, according to UEFA, will go into the League B/C play-offs if they lose to Georgia in Košice on Tuesday. "We have to be very angry," Maldera said at his news conference, as reported by Football 24.

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