NI U21s still seeking first points in Euro qualifiers after defeat to Ukraine
Tommy Wright's Northern Ireland U21s fell to Ukraine in Slovakia
Vitalii Roman condemned Northern Ireland Under-21s to a second Euro 2025 qualifier defeat as Ukraine edged to victory in a tight contest.
Defender Roman’s 70th-minute strike sealed a 1-0 win in a Group F fixture played at Slovakia’s National Training Centre in Poprad.
The defeat, which came five days after a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Luxembourg in Lurgan, leaves Tommy Wright’s side bottom of the group and pointless after two games.
Wright made four changes from the team that started the 1-0 defeat to Luxembourg.
Tommy Fogarty, Sean Stewart, Jamie McDonnell and Ciaran McGuckin came in for Darren Robinson, Charlie McCann, Chris McKee and Micheal Glynn.
In a first half of few chances, keeper Stephen McMullan had only one save of note to make, while Callum Marshall saw an attempt cleared off the line before testing Dynamo Kyiv keeper Ruslan Neshcheret as the whistle approached.
Neshcheret had to deny McGuckin immediately after the restart as Northern Ireland pushed for a breakthrough.
However when it finally arrived, it was the Ukraine who took their chance, Roman firing high past McMullan to give his side the lead.
Midfielder Valentyn Rubchynskyi clipped an effort wide as the Ukrainians went in search of a second goal and McMullan stopped a drive from Ukraine captain Volodymyr Brazhko.
Fogarty got on the end of a Carl Johnston corner but headed over the top as Northern Ireland pushed for an equaliser.
Wright’s men scrapped for a way back into the game as time ran down but were ultimately unable to find a way past Neshcheret as they slipped to another narrow defeat.
Elsewhere in the group, Serbia overcame Azerbaijan 2-0.
Next month, Northern Ireland are
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