Northern Ireland secured their maiden win at a European Championship finals as a second-half header from Gareth McAuley and a late Niall McGinn strike defeated Ukraine 2-0 in a bitterly cold Lyon. Goal.com reports.
Defender McAuley powered home Oliver Norwood’s deep free-kick in the 49th minute to score his country’s first goal at a major tournament since Colin Clarke found the net against Spain at the 1986 World Cup.
Not even heavy rain – which turned into huge hailstones in the second half, causing the game to be suspended for two minutes – could dampen the spirits of those wearing green inside a sodden Parc Olympique Lyonnais, and they wrapped up a historic win when McGinn lashed home in injury time.
While Ukraine are now mired at the bottom of Group C without a point after two games. The victory for Northern Ireland rekindles their hopes of qualifying for the last 16.