Northern Ireland threatened a big score but had to settle for a 2-0 win against Andorra on Tuesday night. Conor Bradley scored twice in six first-half minutes but Michael O'Neill's men couldn't add to their tally.
Bradley ghosted into the six-yard box to poke hime Callum Marshall's cross in the 16th minute. He doubled his and Northern Ireland's lead six minutes later with another late run and header from Jamal Lewis' low cross.
Northern Ireland had chances to extend their margin of victory, but some good goalkeeping and poor decision-making kept the scoreline at 2-0.
It was a welcome win for O'Neill's side following Saturday's 5-1 mauling to Spain, even if it did come against a side ranked 164th in the world. It also gives O'Neill some food for thought heading into September's UEFA Nations League campaign, and then next year's World Cup qualifiers.
Check out our updates below to see how tonight's game unfolded.
Key Events
That's us!
FT | N Ireland 2-0 Andorra
HT | N Ireland 2-0 Andorra
GOAL!! N Ireland 2-0 Andorra
GOAL!! N Ireland 1-0 Andorra
KEY EVENT
That's us!
That's us for tonight's live blog.
Don't forget to check out the Belfast Live website and social channels for all the ratings, reaction and more from tonight's game.
KEY EVENT
FT | N Ireland 2-0 Andorra
All over in Murcia.
Two early Conor Bradley goals settle this one. Should have been more from Northern Ireland but they have to settle for 2-0.
Gareth Fullerton
Into stoppage time
There will be a minimum of three additional minutes.
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NI pressure
They have won two-quick-fire corners here.
Donnelly with a strike which is deflected behind.
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Another chance
Ross McCausland breaks the offside trap, but he seems in two minds and eventually tries to play the ball across goal and Andorra clear.
He had two men in the middle.
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Booking
Aaron Donnelly for a late challenge on Aarón Sánchez.
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NI sub
That's Bradley's last involement as he's replaced by Caolan Boyd-Munce in the 76th minute.
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So close to a hat-trick
Conor Bradley denied by Alvarez at the near post. He could have squared it to a teammate for a tap-in.
Then Ross McCausland flashes a volley wide.
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Good strike
Dale Taylor tries his luck from distance but Alvarez gets down to make the save.
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NI subs
Josh Magennis, Dale Taylor and Ethan Galbraith on.
Jamie Reid, Callum Marshall and Paul Smyth off.
On the hour mark here in Murcia.
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Corner comes to nothing
Andorra clear without much fuss.
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Unlucky
Jamie Reid almost gets through.
Lovely turn from the striker before he's crowded out inside the Andorra box.
Corner NI.
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Another NI chance
Bradley links up with Smyth who darts into the box before drilling a low cross across the face of goal, but nobody is there to finish it off.
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Not far away
Brodie Spencer's low cross almost deceives Alvarez at the near post but the Andorran keeper does well to hold the ball.
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Away we go again
Second half has kicked off in Murcia.
KEY EVENT
HT | N Ireland 2-0 Andorra
We reach the break in Murcia.
Two goals in the space of five minutes by Conor Bradley separate the sides at half-time.
Good display so far from Northern Ireland, and in particular that man Bradley who continues to impress.
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Good shot, good save
Jamal Lewis with a rasping right-foot strike which is palmed away by Alvarez.
Was a great save.
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Another booking
Callum Marshall for a clumsy challenge on Max Llovera.
Few Andorran players weren't too happy with that tackle.
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Massive chance
Callum Marshall fluffs his lines in the 40th minute.
Brodie Spencer sent Jamie Reid free down the right, he crossed to the back post but Marshall got his strike all wrong and the ball bounced tamely wide.
Great opportunity to score his first senior international goal.
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Bradley's second goal
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Smyth requires treatment
The winger is currently getting some physio treatment after that tackle.
Looks good to continue though.
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Booked
Marc Rebés picks up the first booking of the game. Poor challenge on Paul Smyth.
KEY EVENT
GOAL!! N Ireland 2-0 Andorra
It's 2-0 in the 22nd minute.
And it's Conor Bradley with his second of the game.
Jamal Lewis was the provider, sending in a low cross from the left which found its qay to the back post, and there was Liverpool defender Bradley stooping to head home.
KEY EVENT
GOAL!! N Ireland 1-0 Andorra
Northern Ireland in front in the 16th minute.
Conor Bradley with his second international goal.
Brilliant surging run from Callum Marshall down the left. He rounded his marker and made his way to the goalline before crossing to the near post, and there was Bradley ghosting into the six-yard box to poke the ball home.
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15 played
Remains 0-0 in Murcia.
That Callum Marshall half-chance the best opportunity of the game so far.
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Early chance
Northern Ireland corner half cleared.
The ball is played back in again and Callum Marshall fires in a shot which is half blocked and then collected by Andorra keeper Iker Álvarez.
KEY EVENT
KICK-OFF!!
Away we go in Murcia!
KEY EVENT
Northern Ireland team
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Ballard takes over captain's duties
Daniel Ballard will lead Northern Ireland out against Andorra this evening after Jonny Evans returned to the UK following Saturday's defeat to Spain.
Michael O'Neill confirmed Evans, who had some injury niggles during the regular season, did not travel back to Murcia with the rest of the squad yesterday as he felt it was unrealistic to ask the Manchester United defender to play again after a tough 90 minutes in Mallorca.
Evans’ departure means his defensive partner Ballard will take the armband. The Sunderland man will lead Northern Ireland out for the first time at the Estadio Nueva Condomina.
O'Neill is hoping for an easier night for his charges against an Andorran side ranked 164th in the world. But he has also challenged his players to take the game to their opponents.
He said:
“This game is different because we know there is an expectation there obviously. We have to go in and play with confidence. We have to play quickly. We don’t want the game to be slow and pedestrian. We can make it a frustrating night for ourselves but it’s important that we don’t do that.
"People think we set up sometimes not to have possession but when you play the likes of Spain they just do not give the ball to you. It would be lovely to have 60% possession against Spain but we know that’s not going to be the case."
Gareth Fullerton
Betting odds
- N Ireland 3/11
- Andorra 15/4
- Draw 14/1
