Summary

  • Northern Ireland relegated from Nations League B after Romania awarded walkover win over Norway

  • Means tonight's game is a dead rubber

  • Ex-Scotland U21 player Kennedy makes first NI appearance, Evans & Cathcart return to XI

  • Northern Ireland have never won a Nations League match

  • Use audio icon to listen to BBC Radio Ulster coverage

  1. 'Northern Ireland should have won'published at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    FT: Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Better than losing but Northern Ireland should have won. They were comfortable throughout, especially in the second half. They kept Romania under pressure for long periods in the game. Once NI changed the shape of the team and went to one man up front they couldn't get out of their own half and then Romania scored a good goal and NI were lucky at the finish to hang on for a draw.

    Daniel Ballard was excellent and Ali McCan was outstanding so there were some good performances. They can compete with the likes of Romania which is good to know.

  2. 'After so many changes it became scrappy'published at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland v Romania (19:45 GMT)

    Northern Ireland goalscorer Liam Boyce to Sky Sports: "The first half wasn't my best performance but it's good to get a goal.

    "After so many changes it became scrappy. They kept us in the box and kept trying to probe us and eventually broke through.

    "Bit disappointed we didn't win the game."

  3. Elsewhere...published at 21:42 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Wales have been promoted to the top flight with a 3-1 win over Finland.

    Scotland missed out on promotion with a 1-0 defeat by Israel.

    England beat Iceland 4-0 in a dead rubber.

    The Republic of Ireland went a seventh game in a row without scoring as they drew with Bulgaria - although that result did keep them up.

  4. Postpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Still no win for Northern Ireland under Ian Baraclough.

    Two draws against Romania, one penalty shootout win over Bosnia, and five defeats.

  5. Postpublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Northern Ireland's wait for a Nations League win goes on... for another couple of years probably.

    They will be in the third tier - League C - in 2022-23. Failure to win today means even a succesful Norway appeal to Uefa wouldn't save them. They're down.

  6. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    It's all over.

  7. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    NI push for a late winner but Jamal Lewis can't keep a deep cross in play. One minute left.

  8. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Conor McLaughlin flashes a header well wide from the free-kick.

  9. Romania score equaliser late onpublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Romania celebrate goal against N IrelandImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 90+1 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Free-kick to NI, 30 yards out. Load the box?

  11. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Three minutes added on.

  12. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Romania's keeper hasn't had a single save to make today.

  13. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Paddy McNair whips in a more orthodox corner but it's headed away.

  14. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    NI get a corner. Three minutes to go.

  15. 'N Ireland's backs are against the wall'published at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    So frustrating, feels like groundhog day. Northern Ireland just dropping deeper and deeper. Backs are against the wall here. When it gets to this stage in the game everyone is going to be tired and the last thing you want to be doing is defending like this.

  16. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 87 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Romania make two changes - Alexandru Mihail Baluta and Cristian Ganea replace Florin Tanase, who set up the goal, and Denis Alibec.

  17. Postpublished at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    Are Northern Ireland going to have to wait even longer for a first win under Ian Baraclough?

  18. 'Too many yellow shirts and too much room'published at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Northern Ireland surrendered initiative to Romania, I don't know what they were doing there and what sort of formation that was it. It was too easy - they just walked right though Northern Ireland. It's simple football, nice one-twos and people running off the ball and Northern Ireland are not picking them up. Too many yellow shirts and too much room.

  19. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-1 Romania

    NI are straight back on the attack but Ethan Galbraith overhits a pass.