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Northern Ireland v Belarus (19: 45 GMT) Michael O'Neill's side top Nations League Group C3 Teams drew 0-0 when they played in October Northern Ireland aiming for fourth home win in a row Alvin Mc Caig and Jana Mc Cabe Northern Ireland 2-0 Belarus John O'Neill Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster Brodie Spencer has had a great game. His pace has been excellent down the left hand side and he has played very, very well. Brodie Spencer travelling down the wing Northern Ireland 2-0 Belarus Belarus threaten from a cross but they fail to get a shot on goal and Northern Ireland clear. The visitors have to open up now and go on the attack if they are to salvage anything from the game. Northern Ireland 2-0 Belarus As it stands Northern Ireland are going two points clear at the top of Group C3 with a game left. That could all change of course as we move into the final quarter of the match. Isaac Price and Dion Charles celebrating Northern Ireland's second goal Northern Ireland 2-0 Belarus John O'Neill Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster The keeper went the right way but there is absolutely no way he was saving that. The pace on the ball alone was beating him but the direction into the corner means it was a great penalty. Northern Ireland 2-0 Belarus John O'Neill Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster I'll take it but I just think it's a strange decision. I feel sorry for the lad. The only way he can not handle that is by putting his hands in the air. Dion Charles - 62 mins pen Dion Charles hits the bottom and Northern Ireland are two up. Dion Charles celebrating his goal Northern Ireland 1-0 Belarus After a VAR check the referee goes to the monitor and awards a penalty. .. .. Northern Ireland 1-0 Belarus Belarus defender Kirill Pechienin is booked for a foul on Paul Smyth and the ball hits the arm of Pechienin from the resulting free-kick. Could that be a penalty? We have a VAR check. Northern Ireland 1-0 Belarus John O'Neill Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster The two centre-halves are getting forward a lot quicker now when they have the ball and it's causing Belarus problems. Northern Ireland 1-0 Belarus John O'Neill Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster That's exactly what Northern Ireland needed. Daniel Ballard celebrating Northern Ireland 1-0 Belarus Lauren Mc Cann BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park Northern Ireland have lift off! They have come out the second half with a greater intensity and deservedly go ahead through Daniel Ballard. NI were delighted to have him back for his defensive capabilities, but he has also just proved how great a threat he can be from set pieces. That changes the complexion of this game now and NI look up for adding to their tally with Belarus forced to come of their shape now as they chase an equaliser. Dan Ballard - 50 mins Northern Ireland make the breakthrough with a corner from Shea Charles evading everyone until Dan Ballard bends down to head home at the backpost. A simple enough finish from close range but a big, big goal for the hosts. The moment Northern Ireland took the lead Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus Keith Gillespie Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster We don't want to give Belarus chances as it is a side we should be beating. If we get the first we'll go on and win the game comfortably. Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus A rare chance for Belarus - Shea Charles fails to control the ball from a free-kick and it lets in captain Aleksandr Martynovich but the big defender scoops over from 12 yards. Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus Almost the perfect start to the second half for Northern Ireland as Dion Charles heads just over from Brodie Spencer's cross. Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus The action resumes in Belfast. Bradley trying to dispossess Pechenin HT: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus Jim Magilton Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster In games like this you have to take risks and you have to take chances. Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus Lauren Mc Cann BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park Bulgaria are 1-0 up against Luxembourg in the other game and if they win and Northern Ireland draw here they move level on points with NI. That adds extra pressure onto Michael O'Neill's side ahead of the second half as they know they need a win to maintain their hopes of staying top of the group this evening and earning promotion to League B. HT: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus Jim Magilton Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster Belarus are very disciplined and well drilled at the back. They're very physical and Northern Ireland haven't turned them enough. HT: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus Keith Gillespie Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster It's been really poor considering how well Northern Ireland played last month. Sometimes you get that, you're not going to get two unbelievable performances in a row but we definitely have to up the intensity. Ballard marked his return from injury with the opener Northern Ireland took a huge step towards promotion to League B of the Nations League with a routine 2-0 win against Belarus at Windsor Park. Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles were on target for the hosts as they made it three wins from three home games in Group C3, inflicting Belarus' first defeat in the group in the process. Michael O'Neill's side will now complete their campaign with an away game against Luxembourg on Monday. A draw in that fixture will be enough for NI to top the group and seal promotion. Charles went close with a free-kick in a first half of few chances for NI Northern Ireland came into the game off the back of the impressive 5-0 triumph against Bulgaria last month, but O'Neill had said that patience would be key against a Belarus side that had only conceded one goal in the group. That proved to be the case as it was a scrappy start to the game from NI against a team that were content to sit deep. The game burst into life on 14 minutes however, as Northern Ireland fashioned their first and best opportunity of the half. Shea Charles latched onto a misplaced pass from Kirill Pechenin and found Dion Charles, whose first-time instinctive effort from close range was tipped over the crossbar by Fedor Lapoukhov. Pechenin then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal for the in-rushing Evgeni Shikavka, who was unable to get a touch. The earlier NI chance had lifted the sold-out crowd as well as the players and they went close again through Shea Charles and Bradley. Charles, who was captain on the night, smashed a free-kick from 30 yards out into the side netting. Bradley then raced into the area with intent and delivered an inviting ball, but no one in green was on hand to divert the ball goalward. After that bright spell, NI started to slow down with stray passes and a lack of quality in the final third making it a comfortable end to the half for Belarus. Isaac Price curled an effort from range off target as the first half of frustration drew to a close. Dion Charles coolly converted the spot kick to double NI's lead Northern Ireland came out with renewed vigour in the second half, showing the intensity that O'Neill had demanded pre-match. Straight from kick-off they spurned a good opportunity as Brodie Spencer charged down the left-hand side and stood the ball up for Dion Charles but, unmarked, he headed wide. They almost gifted Belarus a goal moments later as Shea Charles slipped when attempting to clear a free-kick delivery into the box. The ball fell to Aleksandr Martynovich, but he snatched at the chance and blazed over the crossbar. The hosts eventually broke the deadlock on 50 minutes as the returning Ballard stooped to meet Shea Charles' corner at the back post to head past Lapoukhov. They were then awarded a penalty on 63 minutes as Pechenin was penalised for a handball from Shea Charles' free-kick. Dion Charles stepped up and confidently tucked home to double their advantage. Northern Ireland continued to push in search of a third goal against a tiring Belarus side. Price picked the ball up with time and space and unleashed a fierce shot which whistled just wide before substitute Jamie Reid volleyed over the crossbar. Fellow substitute George Saville went close in injury time, weaving past his marker before seeing his powerful strike pushed away by Lapoukhov. They were forced to settle for just two goals, but they did pick up another clean sheet, their sixth in nine fixtures this year, as they made it four wins from their last four home games. Last Updated 15th November 2024 at 21: 56 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Michael O'Neill Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Carlos Alós Formation: 5 - 3 - 2 Manager: Michael O'Neill Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Carlos Alós Formation: 5 - 3 - 2 To watch and listen, you need to enable Java Script in your browser. Listen: Sportsound - Northern Ireland v Belarus. BBC Radio Ulster. Audio Listen: Sportsound - Northern Ireland v Belarus BBC Radio Ulster UEFA Nations League All competitions All competitions All competitions Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their four previous meetings with Belarus (W3 D1), keeping a clean sheet in three of those games. Belarus have lost both of their previous two away games in Northern Ireland, losing 3-0 in a May 2016 friendly and 2-1 in a March 2019 European Championship qualifier. Northern Ireland won 5-0 last time out against Bulgaria, having scored only four goals across their six competitive fixtures prior – it was their biggest win since September 1991 (5-0 v Faroe Islands). After winning seven of their first 11 games in the UEFA Nations League (D3 L1), Belarus have since won just one of their 11 matches in the competition (D6 L4). After failing to win any of their first 14 games in the UEFA Nations League (D4 L10), Northern Ireland have since won three of six matches in the competition (D1 L2). Belarus are unbeaten in their last four away gams across all competitions (W2 D2), never before going five in a row on the road without defeat. Isaac Price (21y 19d) became Northern Ireland’s youngest ever hat-trick scorer last month against Bulgaria and could be the first player to score in back-to-back appearances for the nation since Josh Magennis in June 2019. Teenager Pierce Charles has kept a clean sheet in his two appearances for Northern Ireland and could be the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in three straight games for the Green and White Army since Michael Mc Govern in September 2017.   © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.