U19 Euros: Stalemate for Northern Ireland in group opener

Northern Ireland began their UEFA Under-19 Euro campaign with a draw against Ukraine at Inver Park.

Gareth McAuley's side didn't have too many chances to break the deadlock, but they showed flashes of what they're capable of against a visiting side who began brightly, but coulsn't get past goakleeper Pierce Charles.

It was the Ukrainians who enjoyed the vast majority of possession throughout the opening 45 minutes, without truly threatening the Northern Ireland goal. When they did, they found keeper Pierce Charles equal to what was thrown at him.

After Sam Glenfield had been denied by some brave goalkeeping at the other end, Ukraine’s Andrii Matkevych miscued in the box when well placed on the quarter of an hour mark.

Ten minutes later, Ukraine tested Sheffield Wednesday keeper Charles for the first time. It came when Ramik Hadzhyiev fired in a shot from 15 yards, but Charles had little difficulty in keeping hold of it.

Just two minutes later, the side in yellow went close once more. This time it was Hennadii Synchuk who slipped it through to Dmytro Bohdanov. He cracked in a low drive from 18 yards, but again Charles was in the way.

As the half moved into stoppage time, McAuley’s men seemed to raise things a notch and applied some pressure for the first time in the match.

It came when Conor Barr played in Braiden Graham just inside the box and the striker, who has just completed his move to Everton from Linfield, managed to get a poked shot away, but it was beaten out by Ukraine goalkeeper Vladyslav Krapyvtsov.

From the resultant corner, Daithi McCallion headed wide, but it to be the Derry City defender’s final act as he was replaced at the break, having been booked in the first half.

Northern Ireland began the second period much brighter than the first with both Braiden Graham and Kieran Morrison looking lively, but again chances wee hard to come by.

Indeed, that was the same at the other end and it took until the 73rd minute for either keeper to be truly tested.

Once more, it was Charles who was called into action and he produced his best save of the match, diving full length to his right to keep out Synchuk’s shot from inside the box on the right.

Despite Ukraine pushing for the winner – even bringing on Kristian Shevchenko, son of goalscoring great Andriy – they, and Northern Ireland for that matter, were unable to find a winner.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Charles, Briggs, McCallion (Goodman H-T), Lennon, McClure, Trickett (J Doherty 64), Thompson (Hamilton 90), Barr, Glenfield, Graham (Evans 64), Morrison (A Doherty 76)

Subs not used: Munn (GK), Stitt, Atcheson, Smith

Ukraine: Krapyvtsov, Gusiev, Oharkov (Drozd 88), Mykhavko, Melnychenko (C). Vashchenko (Obinaya 88), Hadzhyiev, Tsukanov, Matkevych (Shevchenko 88), Bohdanov (Tutierov 73), Synchuk

Subs not used: Bakus (GK), Yermachkov, Dihtiar

Referee: Luka Bilbija (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Attendance: 1,900