Northern Ireland got their UEFA U19 European Championship campaign off to a positive start following a scoreless draw with Ukraine at Inver Park.
Competition
UEFA U19 European Championship Group A
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U19s 0 Ukraine U19s 0
Venue
Inver Park, Larne
Date
15 July 2024
Team News
Northern Ireland boss Gareth McAuley made a late change to his panel with Luton Town's Dylan Stitt coming into the squad for Francis Turley who will stay with his club ahead of a pre-season trip to the United States.
McAuley handed St Mirren midfielder Gallagher Lennon the captain's armband for the game.
How it happened
Despite a bright, probing start from both teams it took a little while for the game to get going with half-chances very much the order of the day during the opening exchanges.
Ukraine crafted perhaps the first effort of note on eight minutes when, following a well worked move, Hennadii Synchuk fired towards goal only for the ball to be headed clear.
Play then switched to the other end a few minutes after that when Ukraine keeper Vladyslav Krapyvtsov was called into action to deal with a Kieran Morrison free-kick.
But chances were few and far between until around the half-hour mark when Northern Ireland keeper Pierce Charles did well to deal with a Ramik Hadzhyiev effort from just outside the area, and again moments later when he was tested by Dmytro Bohdanov.
And the Sheffield Wednesday man had to be alert again on 34 minutes when he rose highest to deal with a ball into the box under pressure from Andrii Matkevych.
Gareth McAuley's side almost went in at half-time on top when, in added time, Conor Barr played Braiden Graham through only for the Everton striker to be denied by the legs of keeper Krapyvtsov.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U19s 0 Ukraine U19s 0
Ukraine started positively after the break, forcing Charles into an early save to deal with a Synchuk attempt followed a few minutes after that by Matkevych's drive from distance.
Northern Ireland also displayed more attacking intent in a brisk start to the half but, as had gone before, neither side really created much of note in front of goal.
But undoubtedly the chance of the game so far arrived with just over a quarter-of-an-hour to go when Ukraine substitute Timur Tutierov - only on the pitch a matter of seconds - cut through to tee Synchuk up inside the area and his low left-foot strike that looked destined for the bottom corner was superbly turned away by Charles' diving save to his right.
The intensity noticeably increased as the game ticked towards a conclusion but, ultimately, it was a night when both defences were very much at their best and coped confidently with whatever was thrown at them.
Earlier today holders Italy kicked off their defence of the trophy with a 2-1 defeat of Norway - and it's the Italians that will provide Northern Ireland's next opposition on Thursday, again at Inver Park (kick-off 7pm).
Full-time: Northern Ireland U19s 0 Ukraine U19s 0
Line-ups
Northern Ireland U19s: Pierce Charles, Conor Barr, Joel Thompson, Joshua Briggs, Gallagher Lennon, Lewis Trickett, Blaine McClure, Braiden Graham, Kieran Morrison, Daithi McCallion, Sam Glenfield.
Substitutes: (used) George Goodman, Reece Evans, Jack Doherty, Aodhan Doherty, Brendan Hamilton; (unused) Mason Munn, Dylan Stitt, Tom Atcheson, Corey Smith.
Ukraine U19s: Vladyslav Krapyvtsov, Mykola Oharkov, Daniil Vashchenko, Andrii Matkevych, Taras Mykhavko, Ramik Hadzhyiev, Hennadii Synchuk, Dmytro Bohdanov, Oleksiy Gusiev, Maksym Melnychenko, Viktor Tsukanov.
Substitutes: (used) Timur Tutierov, Samuel Obinaya, Kristian Shevchenko, Anton Drozd; (unused) Markiian Bakus, Ivan Yermachkov, Kyrylo Dihtia.
