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. goal

    GOAL - Northern Ireland 1-1 Romaniapublished at 81 mins

    Eric Bicfalvi

    Oh no.

    For the second game in a row a substitute strikes to peg Northern Ireland back.

    Florin Tanase plays a one-two down the left and squares it to Eric Bicfalvi, who sidefoots home from 12 yars out.

  2. Postpublished at 21:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    This is Ethan Galbraith's second cap... which means he has played more international football than club football.

    The 19-year-old has played one Europa League game for Manchester United.

  3. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 79 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Northern Ireland bring on Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith and Conor McLaughlin for Josh Magennis and Michael Smith.

  4. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Jamal Lewis obviously heard John O'Neill's instructions as he time wastes from a throw-in and the referee tells him to get on with it.

  5. 'Northern Ireland need to slow the game down'published at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

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

    The game's livened up a bit now since the goal. Northern Ireland have got to get on the ball and slow the game down, Romania are dictating the pace to them at the minute.

  6. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Brilliant save by NI keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell to tip Razvan Marin's 25-yard strike over the bar. Romania are upping the pressure big time.

  7. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 75 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Romania bring on the bearded forward Eric Bicfalvi for defender Alin Tosca in an attacking change.

    Bicfalvi is immediately involved in a couple of moves up front.

  8. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Great play by Jamal Lewis to get free but then his cross flashes past everyone.

  9. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Romania have a penalty appeal as the ball is flicked towards an NI man. Now they do it again from a Jamal Lewis block.

    VAR would definitely have given the first one against Craig Cathcart. Luckily no VAR in the Nations League.

  10. Postpublished at 21:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Liam Boyce celebrates his second international goalImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Liam Boyce celebrates his second international goal

  11. Postpublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    A win here would mean NI could stay up if Norway have a successful appeal against Romania being given a walkover win.

  12. Big goal from Boycepublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    It may not mean much in terms of this Nations League campaign, but that's still a huge goal for Northern Ireland.

    They had looked brighter since the break and, if Boyce's finish was a scrambled one, the short corner routine that led to it was inventive.

    The advantage of sitting beside Northern Ireland football's resident stat man, Marshall Gillespie, in the press box is that he was able to tell me that it was 855 minutes since Boyce's last - and first - goal from open play for Northern Ireland

    A long wait but it was a big goal, and one NI greatly needed.

  13. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Romania keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu, who is Milan's back-up keeper, runs about 50 yards from his goal. NI get the ball but can't fashion a shooting chance before he gets back.

  14. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    It's so windy at Windsor Park that the corner flags are nearly blowing away.

    Liam Boyce has an ice pack on his knee.

  15. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    NI have had some really good set-piece ideas today. Another routine ends in a catch from the Romania keeper.

  16. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 67 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Couple of NI changes now. Jamal Lewis replaces Matty Kennedy, who had an excellent debut.

    Goalscorer Liam Boyce is replaced by Conor Washington.

  17. 'Good strike but inches wide'published at 21:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

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

    Great chance, great play spreading the ball one side of the pitch to the other. Matty Kennedy puts in a great cross for Ali McCann. It's a good move, good strike but just inches wide.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 65 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Alexandru Maxim and Vasile Mogos are on for Romania. Dennis Man and Valentin Cretu off.

  19. Postpublished at 63 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Close to a second from NI. Matty Kennedy crosses it in for Ali McCann, who flashes a decent volley just wide.

  20. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Northern Ireland 1-0 Romania

    Huge let-off for NI. Bailey Peacock-Farrell misses a free-kick and Iulian Cristea - running in behind him - heads wide from very close range.