International friendly: Northern Ireland hit late double to grab away win over Luxembourg

Captain Steven Davis and striker Gavin Whyte came off the bench to score two late quickfire goals that gave Northern Ireland a satisfying 3-1 friendly win away to Luxembourg.

Josh Magennis had given NI an early lead with an excellent finish that was equalised after the break by Marvin Martins’ header from a corner.

Northern Ireland are back in action in Belfast on Tuesday night when they continue their Nations League preparations by hosting Hungary in a friendly.

Friday night’s friendly was a first outing for Northern Ireland since they ended their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign with an impressive 0-0 draw with Italy at Windsor Park in November – a result that sent the European champions into the play-off that they lost against North Macedonia on Thursday.

Late surge adds gloss after second half became scrappy

It was a satisfying victory in the end for Baraclough’s men, who started the match strongly with Magennis and Shayne Lavery very lively up front.

The hosts came back into the game well, however, and the match had become scrappy by the time Martins levelled on 58 minutes with a backpost header from a corner that Craig Cathcart failed to head clear.

Whyte and Davis were two of four subs made on the hour-mark by Baraclough and both were involved in the 83rd-minute goal that restored the visitors’ lead.

In-form Oxford United forward Whyte showed invention in the box to turn and lay the ball off to fellow sub Niall McGinn, whose low cross broke to Davis and he prodded home from close range with the sole of his foot.

Whyte, traditionally a wide man who has played through the middle more and more for NI, found himself through on goal two minutes later and composed himself well to slide a clever low finish into the bottom corner.

Classy Magennis finish follows strong NI start

With a lot of the narrative in the build-up to the game surrounding a number of young new call-ups to the squad, Northern Ireland boss Baraclough went with a very experienced line-up skippered by Jonny Evans, who was a late addition to the squad this week.

It meant the likes of Trai Hume, Paddy Lane and Caolan Boyd-Munce will have to bide their time before making their senior international debuts, some of which may come against Hungary in Belfast on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland signalled their intent as early as the second minute when the ever-willing Shayne Lavery wasted little time in making an impact on his return to the fold by closing the ball down and winning possession.

The Blackpool striker got in behind the home defence and delivered a dangerous low cross that flashed across goal but was just too far ahead of his strike partner Magennis.

Lavery was again to the fore six minutes later when Joran Thompson found space in midfield superbly and fed the livewire forward with a fine pass that he took in his strike before delivering a low shot that went just wide of the post.

Once again set up in the 3-5-2 formation that has become manager Ian Baraclough’s blueprint, Northern Ireland remained on the front foot and went close again through a Corry Evans curler that was well saved by home goalkeeper Anthony Moris, who then reacted well to thwart Thompson on the follow-up.

Daniel Sinani made sure Northern Ireland stand-in goalkeeper Conor Hazard stayed alive when he curled wide a few minutes before Magennis got that opening goal in the 16th minute, latching onto a long ball and shrugging Maxime Chanot with great strength before finding the far bottom corner of the net with a delicious low left-foot curler.

The hosts responded well and played their way into the match, looking threatening a few times on the attack, though it was Lavery again who had the final say of the first half when he fired over the crossbar just before the break.