Nations League: Northern Ireland secure promotion after point in Luxembourg

Northern Ireland earned promotion to the second tier of the Nations League last night (Monday) after a 2-2 draw away to Luxembourg.

A point was all they needed to finish top of Group C3 with 11 points from six games.

But it should have been even better for Michael O'Neill's young squad who had gone into a 2-0 lead after goals from Conor Bradley and Issac Price (pictured below) .

After the game Michael O'Neill said he did not think the scoreline was a "true reflection" of the game.

Speaking on Northern Ireland's X he said there was a lot to be positive about.

Attention now turns to the draw for next year's World Cup qualifiers, and Liverpool's Bradley believes Northern Ireland have every reason to believe they can be in contention.

"Definitely," the 21-year-old said. "I don't see why not. We are a young team that has to learn on the job in a way but I feel we are getting better with every game and we can go into the World Cup with hope. I'm really looking forward to it."

Bradley got his fourth international goal in Luxembourg, doubling Northern Ireland's lead after Isaac Price's first-half strike. Luxembourg hit back with two in three minutes late on through Seid Korac and Gerson Rodrigues - but bar a few mad minutes this was another impressive Northern Ireland display.

"I thought it was probably one of our best performances in the whole group," Bradley added. "We played some fantastic football throughout and then there was a five or 10-minute spell when they were on top and got two goals, which can happen in football.

"It stunned us because we were in total control and it was disappointing but we got through the game after that and were able to top the group.

"I think we deserved to win the game but we will take the draw because we topped the group and that was our aim coming into the Nations League, so we are happy."

Bradley had a chance to kill the game off in the 65th minute. The chance was similar to the goal he scored but arguably an easier opportunity - Price sent in a cross from the left but, where he had headed in before, this time Bradley screwed a shot wide.

"If I score the third goal for us it probably kills the game," he said. "It is something we can take massive learning from."