Northern Ireland under-21s secured their first win beneath supervisor Tommy Wright the laborious method as they performed greater than half of Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan with 10 males in Baku.
Ciaran McGuckin headed Northern Ireland in entrance with 19 minutes gone from Sean Stewart’s nook however the Euro 2025 qualifier modified eight minutes earlier than the break.
Aaron Donnelly, a part of Northern Ireland’s senior squad again in June, introduced down Murad Velijev contained in the penalty space to be proven a straight crimson card, however Northern Ireland have been spared additional punishment when Dzhamal Dzhafarov despatched the ensuing penalty huge of the goal.
Unsurprisingly Azerbaijan saved Northern Ireland pegged again for lengthy spells after the break however couldn’t discover a well past goalkeeper Stephen McMullan.
The Fleetwood stopper did properly to maintain out a long-range strike from Samir Maharramli with 19 minutes left earlier than Velijev headed over from a nook.
But there was no method by way of as former St Johnstone boss Wright, appointed in August, may have fun a primary win after his opening two qualifiers in cost resulted in 1-0 defeats to Luxembourg and Ukraine final month.
Northern Ireland will proceed their qualifying marketing campaign with a house match towards Serbia at Mourneview Park on Monday night.
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