Summary

  • Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland (FT)

  • Benjamin Kallman opens scoring at Windsor Park

  • Dion Charles has second-half effort ruled out

  • Michael O'Neill's first home match since returning as manager

  • Dion Charles scores twice as Northern Ireland beat San Marino in their opener

  • Finland lost their Group H opener 3-1 to Denmark

  1. Postpublished at 20:55 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Ciaron Brown could throw the ball to Helsinki, but the 18-yard box will do and Finland are struggling to deal with his balls into the area.

    He's had three bites of the cherry and it has taken three attempts for Finland to finally clear the danger.

  2. Postpublished at 20:53 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Josh Magennis backheels the ball to Dion Charles down the right, but his cross is over-hit and beyond Conor Washington, who had a good bit of space in the area.

  3. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 20:53 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Jensen is now forced off with a head injury and Petola is on in his place. Enforced changes for both sides.

  4. Postpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Woah, super Josh Magennis!

    Josh Magennis
  5. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Daniel Ballard is forced off with a leg injury and is replaced by Josh Magennis.

    That's an attacking change by Michael O'Neill.

  6. YELLOW CARDpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    The referee has brought his cards out for the second half as Jensen is booked for a heavy tackle on Paddy McNair.

    The free-kick is poor but Glen Kamara is penalised for a handball, even though it definitely came off his shoulder.

    NI reset and we'll try again.

  7. Postpublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Tommy Wright
    Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper on Radio Ulster

    The pitch needs investment.

  8. Magilton slams Windsor pitchpublished at 20:48 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster

    For an international game its absolutely brutal, there's no question about that. You can see how hesitant players are I don't see many players playing one touch, everything is minimum two touches and it makes it difficult. It just looks really wobbly.

    It's not an international classed pitch at all.

  9. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Off we go.

    No changes for either side.

  10. Postpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Northern Ireland were *this* close to drawing level.

    Dion CharlesImage source, Press Eye
  11. Postpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster

    Conor Bradley has also been brilliant - the two 19-year-olds have really set the tone when Northern Ireland have the ball.

  12. Star of the showpublished at 20:43 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    James Martin, something of a legend in local football circles, has just been presented on the pitch after winning an Oscar for An Irish Goodbye.

    He won it on his 31st birthday and he had all the stars singing 'Happy Birthday' to him after winning the award.

    He's just been asked on TV if he would rather win another Oscar or have Northern Ireland qualify for the Euros.

    "How about both?", he says.

    We won't argue with that.

    James MartinImage source, Getty Images
    James MartinImage source, Pacemaker
  13. Postpublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Tommy Wright
    Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper on Radio Ulster

    Shea Charles has been magnificent, we have to get him on the ball more.

  14. Postpublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster

    I think Finland's shape has dominated the Northern Ireland shape - they push really high which means their full backs can come up and help dominate the game.

  15. A first half in photospublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Michael O'NeillImage source, Press Eye
    Jordan Thompson pokes the ballImage source, Press Eye
    Benjamin Kallman scores a goalImage source, Getty Images
    Dion CharlesImage source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

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

    I think Michael will be disappointed as we haven't played with a high enough tempo and been careless with the ball, especially when we trying to play it to strikers.

  17. Early bump on the roadpublished at 20:35 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    HT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    There has been a positive glow around the Northern Ireland squad ever since Michael O'Neill came back for a second spell as manager.

    That Finland goal has brought the mood down a peg or two, however, and the home side need to respond in the second half.

    There have certainly been signs that they can do that, none more so than that move before the break when Shea Charles superbly released Conor Bradley, who surged forward before playing a perfectly-weighted pass to Dion Charles, whose shot on the turn was saved.

    This is a massive 45 minutes coming up for Northern Ireland and a half of football that could be so, so important to their chances of qualifying from Group H.

    Windsor awaits.

  18. Charles makes things happenpublished at 20:32 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

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

    It was a great ball from Bradley then Charles was on to it, the goalkeeper has done well to close it down with a big right foot. Charles might be disappointed he didn't take a better strike but I keep saying, when Charles gets the ball, things can happen!

  19. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    After a full 15 seconds of additional time the whistle goes for half-time.

    Northern Ireland have it all to do in the second half.

  20. Postpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland

    Conor Bradley catches Pukki despite getting a touch on the ball and Finland win the free-kick.