Hume's decisive free kick puts Northern Ireland in front

Northern Ireland's victory, thanks to a goal by Ciaron Brown from a corner confirmed by VAR, secures the Northern Ireland side the top spot in the Nations League group, while Ukraine sees its qualification hopes evaporate. The match was played on 2 October 2026 at 20:45.

Match timeline

The match was broadcast live on Date: 02/10/2026, at Time 20:45, at the indicated Stadium, under the supervision of referee Jasper Vergoote. It is a Nations League fixture, presented live for viewers. Both teams fielded their starting eleven from kickoff.

In the first minute, the line‑ups were announced and the warm‑up began. A corner was conceded by Volodymyr Brazhko in the 1st minute, followed by a blocked shot. Shortly after, Shea Charles was awarded a free kick in his half.

Key moments

The decisive moment came in the 14th minute, when Ciaron Brown scored with his right foot from a corner, the goal confirmed after VAR review. Later, in the 90th minute, Trai Hume was awarded a free kick in the Northern Irish half. The final score settled at Ukraine 0, Northern Ireland 1.

Statistics show possession of 70 % for Ukraine versus 30 % for Northern Ireland. Shots on target total 7 to 12, while fouls count 8 for each side. The match was followed live, with highlights relayed in real time.

The squads presented included for Ukraine goalkeeper D. Riznyk, defender V. Brazhko and striker A. Yarmolenko, under the direction of coach A. Maldera. Northern Ireland fielded Ciaron Brown, Terry Devlin and Trai Hume, led by coach M. O'Neill.

The result closes the encounter with Northern Ireland's victory, which takes the lead of the group, while Ukraine must now look for other opportunities to qualify.