Nations League: The Price is right for five-star Northern Ireland

A stunning evening at Windsor Park - there's no other way to describe it as Northern Ireland moved to the top of Group C3 in the Nations League.

Five goals, a hat-trick from one of their rising stars, a missed penalty by their opponents, a clean sheet for Pierce Charles on his first senior appearance at home and a sixth goal ruled after a VAR check - it was a night where Michael O'Neill's young side came of age, against a side who did a number on them last month away from home.

When the 'oles' are ringing around the South Belfast venue at the end of the match, you know it's been one of THOSE nights.

Isaac Price grabbed the first hat-trick for Northern Ireland since David Healy against Liechtenstein in 2007, his third a simply sublime effort from distance.

Ironically, the last time Northern Ireland won 5-0 was way back in 1971 where another player helped himsefl to a treble - a certain George Best. Pretty good company for Price to keep.

The Manager had talked about the development of his players and learning on the job, so to speak.

This was a night where they ripped Bulgaria apart from start to finish.

O’Neill made three changes to his starting line-up from the one that drew 0-0 with Belarus in Hungary on Saturday night.

Brodie Spencer came in on left side of defence for Jamal Lewis, Ali McCann replaced George Saville in the middle of the park, while Dion Charles took the place of Jamie Reid up top.

Despite a slightly hesitant start, Northern Ireland didn’t take long to find their feet and they opened the scoring on 14 minutes as Price got his first of the evening.

Superb hustling and harrying by Dion Charles down the left saw him win the ball, before an inch-perfect low ball with the outside of his right boot was so inviting for Price to sidefoot home.

Charles was causing havoc down that left channel, and on 22 minutes, he cut inside his marker only to see his goalbound shot deflected out for a corner. Shortly afterwards, Callum Marshall rifled a cross-shot over the bar from a tight angle on the left.

That was on 28 minutes and less than 60 seconds later, the hosts doubled their lead as Price got his second.

A brilliant break down the left saw Spencer cut the ball back for Dion Charles inside the box. He appeared to be fouled, but play continued and Price's deflected shot from 15 yards found the net.

Two then became three just three minutes later, with Spencer once again involved.

He cut in from the left and fired in a low right-foot drive from 25 yards. It cannoned off the post before hitting the back of Bulgaria keeper Dimitar Mitov to finish in the net. The goal was given to the stopper as an own goal – harsh on Spencer it has to be said, but it mattered little to the 18,000 packed into Windsor Park.

Things took a slightly negative spin just a few minutes before then end of the half when Eoin Toal was adjudged to have pulled back Martin Minchev as the pair battled in the box following a Bulgaria free-kick on the right.

French Referee Jerome Brisard pointed to the spot and after Toal received lengthy treatment – the Bolton defender was eventually replaced by Ciaron Brown – Bulgaria captain Kiril Despodov stepped up.

Pierce Charles, in his first senior appearance at Windsor Park, dived the right way, but the ball smashed against the crossbar and to safety from Northern Ireland’s point of view.

When that happened, you got the sense it was going to be one of those nights when everything goes right. They’ve been few and far between for Northern Ireland fans of late.

The visitors, through Minchev, did have the first opportunity after the restart, but he could only direct his effort wide. While on 52 minutes, Dion Charles mishit his effort from 10 yards and it spun wide of the right hand post.

Northern Ireland thought they had scored a fourth on 68 minutes as Dion Charles poked home the rebound from Conor Bradley's deft chip. However, Bradley was deemed to be offside from Pierce Charles' initial raking pass following a VAR check.

It was desperately unlucky for the Bolton striker, who ran himself into the ground, but also for the fact it was a fantastic move, all started by that fine raking ball from the 19-year-old goalkeeper.

When the fourth did arrive, it came in the finest of styles.

Price collected the ball from Shea Charles - the best player on the pitch by some distance - 25 yards out and unelashed an unstoppable effort into the top right hand corner. It was no more than he deserved for a super performance as his name rang out across Windsor Park.

When he and Shea Charles were taken off with five minutes remaining, they recevied a deserved standing ovation.

As if things couldn't get any better for the Green and White Army, they certainly did two minutes from time when fan favourite Josh Magennis got in on the act.

He conected perfectly with fellow sub Paul Smyth's cutback from the right to find the net from 15 yards off the inderside of the crossbar.

It was a night that will live long in the memory of those present.

While Bulgaria may not be the biggest nation in the world in terms of football, this felt like an occasion where this young Northern Ireland side laid down their marker for the next number of years.

They top Group C3 by a point from Belarus, who drew 1-1 against Luxembourg.

Northern Ireland's final games come next month against both those sides.

With the Belarus encounter still scheduled to take place in Belfast as it stands - all dependent on whether the UK government issue their players with visas - before a trip to Luxembourg, they are now favourites to finish in top spot.

It woul be no more than this young team deserves given their dismantling of the Bulgarians.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: P Charles, Hume, McNair, Toal (Brown 44), Spencer, Bradley (C), S Charles (Lyons 85) McCann, Price (Magennis 85), D Charles (Reid 74), Marshall (Smyth 74)

Subs not used: Southwood (GK), Pym (GK), Lewis, Saville, Bonis, Thompson, Boyd-Munce

Bulgaria: Mitov, Popov, H Petrov, S Petrov, Atanasov (Chochev 79), Kostadinov, Yusein (Antov H-T), Despodov (C) (Iliev 85), M Minchev (G Minchev 85), Kirilov (Dimitrov H-T), Krastev

Subs not used: Vutsov (GK), Dyulgerov (GK), I Minchev, Ivanov, Lyaskov, Panayotov, Turitsov

Referee: Jerome Brisard (France)