It might have been a dead-rubber but it was a worthwhile run out on the back of losses to Germany and Slovakia, as the Green and White Army savoured that winning feeling again
Northern Ireland will go into the World Cup play-offs in March on the back of a victory after a callow side saw off Luxembourg at Windsor Park. It might have been a dead-rubber in terms of improving their position in Group A but it was a worthwhile run out on the back of losses to Germany and Slovakia, as the Green and White Army savoured that winning feeling again.
Matchwinner Donley admitted he didn’t feel nervous before taking the penalty that handed Northern Ireland victory over Luxembourg in south Belfast last night. The Spurs man – currently on loan at Stoke City – was handed a chance to get his first goal for his country when a spot-kick was awarded just before the break following a VAR intervention.
Many inside Windsor Park had no idea why the game was being delayed while the officials came to a decision – including the players themselves.
Asked if he felt the pressure ramping up as the referee took his time before awarding the penalty, Donley admitted: “It helped that I didn’t know what was going on! I didn’t know if it was a red card or what was going on.
“Then Conor (Bradley) came over to me and said ‘if it’s a penalty you’re taking it’ so I just tried to stay as calm as possible.
“I back myself when it comes to penalties so I’m delighted.”
The 20-year-old staked his claim for the striker’s spot in Michael O’Neill’s side with his performance last night, even though he’s used to playing in a deeper role. He’d had an earlier effort ruled out for offside but says the feeling of finding the net gave him the belief that his manager’s view of him is the correct one.
“I’m delighted,” added Donley. “Scoring earlier in the game, although it was ruled out for offside, gave me a lot of confidence.
“I knew that if I got another chance I could take it.
“Michael spoke to me during the week, he always speaks to me about playing as a striker so he just said to take my opportunity, and luckily I scored.”
Michael O’Neill made six changes to his starting XI from Friday night’s defeat in Slovakia, with injured duo Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamie Reid replaced by Conor Hazard and Donley. Daniel Ballard and George Saville were suspended, while Thai Hume and Justin Devenney were walking a disciplinary tightrope, meaning the former was left out altogether and the latter was on the bench. Ciaron Brown, Jamal Lewis and Ethan Galbraith all returned, while midfielder Jamie McDonnell was handed his first start.
Having switched more than half his team, it was to the manager’s credit that his side looked so cohesive early on.
Galbraith was lively from the off and showed his quality in the fifth minute when his deep cross from the left picked out Paddy McNair at the back post. The San Diego FC star tried to set up a team-mate rather than going for goal though, allowing the Luxembourg defence to clear.
Donley was spearheading the attack but the Spurs man knows how to orchestrate from deep, and with a lovely drop of the shoulder he ignited a scorching move up the pitch in the tenth minute. Having bought a bit of space, he slipped the ball wide to Galbraith, who hoisted a pass over to Price. Everyone present expected the West Brom man to shoot but he cleverly back-heeled the ball to Lewis only for the left-back to slash a wild shot off target.
Galbraith was roaming everywhere, and broke forward to tee up Donley for what appeared to be the opener; on this occasion though, the Swansea star had roamed into an offside position from McNair’s through-ball.
Luxembourg finally gained a foothold as Danel Sinani showed strength and skill to shrug off a couple of challenges and slip a pass into the path of Christopher Martins but Hazard raced out to smother the forward’s shot.
It was a warning shot for the home side, however, and another one arrived soon after when Mathais Oleson whipped an effort from range narrowly past the post.
Northern Ireland upped their work-rate to steady the ship, and earned their reward a couple of minutes before half-time, with a little help from VAR.
The visitors brought the problem on themselves by failing to clear their box and when Martins and Ciaron Brown contested possession on the edge of the area, the Luxembourg man kicked through his opponent. Referee Kristo Tohver was sent to the pitchside monitor, then turned to point to the spot and Donley did the rest, calmly burying the penalty to leave it 1-0 at the break.
O’Neill withdrew skipper Conor Bradley for the second half, sending on Terry Devlin in the Liverpool man’s stead. Midfielder Brad Lyons then came off injured early on and Paul Smith entered the fray, with Luxembourg suddenly looking the slicker of the two teams, albeit they failed to punch a proper hole in the home defence, where Ruairi McConville was again so assured.
Northern Ireland tried to change the dynamic as Josh Magennis and Callum Marshall came on in attack for McDonnell and Donnelly but, leading Luxembourg at home in a dead-rubber, the sense of urgency began to fade on the pitch and in the stands.
Marshall did get a chance to get his name on the scoresheet as the clock ticked down, with the ball dropping to him in a crowded box after Brown had launched a long throw-in from the left but the West Ham young gun took a fresh air swipe at it.
Magennis could also have raised the roof at the death when Anthony Morris went walkabout from his goal and Price tried to catch him out, but the veteran striker’s attempt to deflect his team-mate’s effort home fell kindly for the visiting keeper.
And Price then made a hames of a golden opportunity deep into stoppage-time, scooping the ball over after substitute Patrick Kelly squared it to him in the area.
