NI move closer to promotion with comfortable Belarus win

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.

Frustrating first half for NI

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.

Persistence pays off for hosts

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.