N.Ireland 3-5 Spain: U21s narrowly lose out in 8-goal thriller at Shamrock Park

Northern Ireland's under-21s put up a superb fight as they were edged out 5-3 by Spain in a thrilling European Qualifier at Shamrock Park.

Ian Baraclough's side pulled themselves levels 3 times throughout the game, but the visitors eventually did enough to earn the points.

Real Madrid midfielder and Spain captain Dani Ceballos showed a moment of class to create the opening goal, sliding a precise pass through to match the run of Mikel Oyarzabal in the 14th minute.

The Real Sociedad winger held his run to stay onside down the left, before collecting the ball and placing it beyond Conor Mitchell in the Northern Ireland goal.

Home captain Liam Donnelly then coolly slotted an equalising penalty after half an hour to make it 1-all, after Newcastle's Mikel Merino hauled down Crusaders winger Gavin Whyte inside the box.

Merino then made up for it, clipping a 44th minute ball over the top to pick out Oyarzabal. He stepped around the onrushing Mitchell, and slotted a clever finish into the net to score his second and send Spain into the lead just before the break.

However, there was still time for Northern Ireland to score another equaliser.

Jordan Thompson floated a free kick into the box, and Liam Donnelly then shot across the goal. Shayne Lavery charged in at the back post and got a touch as the ball crossed the line. While it wasn't clear exactly who scored the goal, it didn't matter.

It meant the sides went in level at the break, 2-all.

But it took only 90 seconds for Spain to score in the second half as Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral produced a superb piece of skill to flick home a Carlos Soler cross to make it 3-2.

Northern Ireland were far from defeated though, and once again showed superb character to fight back and score their 3rd equaliser of the night.

Glenavon's Mark Sykes dribbled his way past several Spanish defenders, working his way into the box. The ball then broke to Everton forward Shayne Lavery, who was able to lash home a vicious finish in at the near post to make it 3-all in the 68th minute.

Just 7 minutes later, Spain restored their advantage as Mayoral was in the right place to tap home a Oyarzabal cross for his 2nd of the night to make it 4-3 to the visitors.

In the 85th minute, Spain made sure of the points when Soler's corner ran all the way to Mayoral at the back post who was free to head into an empty net and complete his hat-trick to make it 5-3.