Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 1–0 as Devlin's first international goal keeps them top of their Nations League group
Terry Devlin's first international goal gave Northern Ireland a 1–0 win over Ukraine at Windsor Park on Saturday night in the UEFA Nations League, keeping Michael O'Neill's side top of League B Group 2. The Portsmouth midfielder curled in the winner in the 68th minute, and goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved late to preserve a fifth straight clean sheet. Northern Ireland now need only a draw away to Hungary on Tuesday to reach League A for the first time.
Key points
- Northern Ireland 1–0 Ukraine at Windsor Park — Devlin's first international goal wins it in the 68th minute.
- Pierce Charles's late save made it five straight clean sheets, a first since 2017; Northern Ireland are the only side in the competition yet to concede.
- Northern Ireland stay top of League B Group 2, a point above Hungary.
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- A draw in Hungary on Tuesday takes Northern Ireland into League A for the first time.
What happened
Northern Ireland had already beaten Ukraine 3–0 away from home earlier in this Nations League campaign, and came into Saturday's match at Windsor Park still looking for their first home goal of the group. Jamie Donley had a first-half finish ruled out for offside before Devlin broke the deadlock after the break.
Hungary's 2–0 win in Georgia earlier in the day had briefly moved them level in the group, but Devlin's winner restored Northern Ireland's lead at the top and left Ukraine beaten for a third straight match.
Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedNorthern Ireland beat Ukraine 1–0 at Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday 14 November in UEFA Nations League League B Group 2, Matchday 5. The match was goalless at half-time.UEFA — Nations League Matchday 5 round-up (14 Nov 2026) · Sportradar match record — Northern Ireland vs Ukraine, Nations League B2, Matchday 5 (14 Nov 2026) · Sky Sports — N Ireland 1-0 Ukraine match report (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedTerry Devlin scored the only goal in the 68th minute, his first goal for Northern Ireland, curling a shot from distance past Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin after a short corner was worked along the edge of the area, with Ethan Galbraith credited with the assist.Sky Sports — N Ireland 1-0 Ukraine match report (14 Nov 2026) · UEFA — Nations League Matchday 5 round-up (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedGoalkeeper Pierce Charles saved from Danylo Sikan late in the match to preserve Northern Ireland's fifth straight clean sheet — the first time they have kept five in a row since 2017 — and Northern Ireland remain the only side in this Nations League yet to concede a goal.Sky Sports — N Ireland 1-0 Ukraine match report (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe win keeps Northern Ireland top of League B Group 2, a point above Hungary, and sets up a promotion decider away to Hungary on Tuesday: a draw would take Northern Ireland into League A for the first time. Ukraine's defeat was their third in a row and rules them out of contention for top spot.UEFA — Nations League Matchday 5 round-up (14 Nov 2026) · Sky Sports — N Ireland 1-0 Ukraine match report (14 Nov 2026)
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- The result, the scorer and the group position are settled across UEFA's record and the match reports.
What we don't know yet
- Whether Jamie Donley will miss Tuesday's match in Hungary through suspension — one report says his booking in this match rules him out; the federation had not confirmed it in the reporting read.
- Any injury news from the match — none was reported in the sources read.