Report and free match highlights as Shayne Lavery scores his first Northern Ireland goal on his maiden competitive start; Conor Washington and Paddy McNair both score penalties; Dan Ballard opens scoring in first half; Rolandas Baravykas scores for Lithuania, who have penalty saved
Friday 3 September 2021 11:30, UK
Northern Ireland survived a second-half scare to secure a vital 4-1 win against Lithuania and boost their chances in World Cup Qualifying.
There were concerns before the game as Ian Baraclough had to cope without a number of first-team players, but his side produced a fine performance in Vilnius. Northern Ireland took the lead inside 20 minutes as Dan Ballard turned home Conor Washington's superb cross.
The drama of the game came in the second half, starting when the visitors were awarded a penalty shortly after the break. Linas Megelaitis was penalised for a blatant handball after Michael Smith's fierce shot, with Washington powering the penalty home after a VAR review (52).
Lithuania pulled a goal back almost immediately as Rolandas Baravykas (54) curled home a superb effort. It looked like the comeback was on too when the hosts were awarded their own penalty following a lengthy VAR review, however Bailey Peacock-Farrell was the hero of the hour as he saved Arvydas Novikovas' spot-kick.
It proved to be the turning point in the game as Northern Ireland pulled further ahead. It was another tap in, this time for Shayne Lavery (67) as he netted his first goal for his country. Another penalty then rounded proceedings off too as Steven Davis was fouled by Edgaras Utkus, who should have been sent off in the first half.
Paddy McNair - who was booked for his foul to give away Lithuania's penalty and will miss the next World Cup Qualifier against Switzerland - converted the spot kick (82) and round off the must-win victory.
The victory takes Northern Ireland onto four points in Group C, just two behind Switzerland, who travel to Windsor Park next week, live on Sky Sports.
Lithuania began the game well, and almost scored from the first corner. However, Edgaras Dubickas nodded the delivery over the crossbar. Northern Ireland could have scored with their first attack too. Jamal Lewis swung in a scooped cross, but Lavery's touch was poor as the ball fizzed past him and wide.
Northern Ireland capitalised on their spell of pressure as they went ahead in the 20th minute. It was some superb recycling of the ball after a cleared corner, with captain Davis picking out Washington down the right wing. It was a wonderful cross from the Charlton striker, with an un-marked Ballard in the six-yard box to turn home.
Minutes later, and Northern Ireland should have had a second. Washington produced some superb play again, easily getting ahead of Baravykas, before picking out Ali McCann outside the area. He then set a fierce effort goalwards, though it skimmed off goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus' gloves before going wide.
Both sides went close as the half went on. Megelaitis pinged a lovely ball forward for the run of Dubickas, but his touch was poor as the ball rolled out for a goal kick. At the other end, Lavery missed another big effort. Jordan Thompson showed superb vision to pick out the striker up front but with only the goalkeeper to beat, Lavery lashed his effort across the face of goal and into the stands.
Lithuania were lucky to end the half with a full complement of players too, with Utkus being booked in the 31st minute for a foul on Smith. Soon after, he hammered into Lavery in midfield, though escaped a quick second yellow and sending off.
Five minutes after the break and Northern Ireland were awarded a penalty. It was a wonderful run from Smith to the top of the area, with Megelaitis throwing himself in front of the eventual shot and the ball ricocheting off his arm. Despite his protests and a VAR check, the decision stood and it was a superb penalty from Washington, hammering the ball into the far left corner.
But almost immediately, Lithuania pulled a goal back. It was a superb hit from Baravykas too as Northern Ireland failed to clear a corner. It fell to the defender at the top of the area and he curled a superb effort past a rooted Peacock-Farrell.
The drama just kept coming as VAR awarded Lithuania a penalty just after the hour. Craig Cathcart's heavy touch allowed Justas Lasickas to drive into the area. He was challenged by McNair and despite referee Stephanie Frappart initially waving the claim away, after a check of the pitchside monitor, she reversed her decision. Novikovas stepped up, and his penalty was superbly saved by Peacock-Farrell.
Lithuania were made to rue the miss too as Northern Ireland added their third in the 67th minute. It was some lovely link-up play between Lewis and Thompson down the left, with the latter slotting the ball through for a Lavery tap-in. After two near misses in the first half, the in-form Blackpool striker finally bagged his first Northern Ireland goal.
With ten minutes of the game to play, Lithuania's suspect defending took another hit as the visitors were awarded yet another penalty. Utkus bundled David to the floor and despite a finger wag afterwards, it was another clear spot kick, although VAR was again on hand to check the decision. It was McNair who stepped up this time and he scored a similar penalty to Washington as Northern Ireland rounded off a superb away victory.
It was a wonderful attacking performance from Washington. He had a hand in the opening goal with a fine cross, and his strong back-to-goal play should have been rewarded soon after.
The Charlton striker also scored an emphatic penalty, scoring and assisting in the same game for the first time at international level, to round off a good evening's work.
Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough to Sky Sports:
"I said to the boys 'you've got to come of age tonight' and they've stepped up to the plate. They've taken their chances, there was a shaky five minutes in the first half, a shaky five minutes in the second half and then we managed the game very well.
"For young players to go and do that among the senior boys, I thought it was a magnificent performance. It's a tough place to come, and we've come here, played some really good stuff, controlled the majority of the game, created chances, it could've been more. But we'll take the four.
"I don't think you realise from outside the bubble, what has actually gone on this week, the losses we've had and the downs we have had to try and pick ourselves up from. There's been a lot of disruption but the boys have just worked together and the staff have come together as well. it's been tremendous.
"We've gone about our work calmly. Everyone knows their jobs, we keep it very simple, and try not to over complicated thing. The lads have stuck their tasks tonight magnificently well and I'm delighted for everybody.
[Peacock-Farrell] comes up with important saves at important times and he's shown his worth. He's playing regular football now, he looks very sharp as a goalkeeper and he's shown Premier League class, which is what he is. It's an important save he's made, they could have got an equaliser and he's pulled off a save like that. It's brilliant.
"I think it was a performance that merited four goals and we'll make sure we move that on to Estonia and Switzerland."
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell to Sky Sports:
"The way the game was going, it might have been a different game if that penalty went in. They came back into it quite nicely with their first goal so to save it at that time with that scoreline, I think it was an important save and I'm delighted with it.
"It's a bit of everything [to save a penalty] - belief, trying to sense the feeling out there on the pitch, the circumstances of the game, the score and what foot he is. It all gives indications where one might go so it's trying to get all the information you can and when you step on the pitch, it's you and your mind and you've got to make the correct calculation.
"It [the result] shows the quality and the depth we have in the squad now with the young lads coming through. We've not got Jonny [Evans], Stuart [Dallas] and other key players and the way players have come in and slotted in nicely with those performances, it's a great sign."
Neil Lennon on Sky Sports: "There's no better feeling than winning a game for your country, so psychologically they're going to go into next week's game in really good fettle. There's work to do obviously, hopefully they get a few players back, but in terms of a good night's work, that's exactly what it was."
On Peacock-Farrell's save: "It was a fantastic reaction in a really critical moment of the game. I think it was the launchpad for Northern Ireland to go on and win the game comfortably.
"I think he's a good goalkeeper. All goalkeepers make mistakes, particularly when they're younger, but his are probably more high profile because he's playing in high profile games.
"But I think he's settled now, he's playing for a big club [Sheffield Wednesday], he's playing consistently at a decent level. He's looking sharper, in good condition and the save from the penalty was fantastic."
Chris Brunt on Sky Sports: "There are no easy international games, especially for a country like ours. When you lose your Premier League-experience players, it's always going to be tough, but they handled it really well.
"Take away the first five minutes and we were in control of the game. We got the second goal and we thought we were home and dry, then all of a sudden, someone pressed the panic button.
"But they came back from that, Bailey made the save, and the rest of it was pretty comfortable, they saw the game out well."
Northern Ireland are back in action on Sunday as they face Estonia in an international friendly, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5pm. They will round off the September break with another World Cup qualifier against Switzerland at Windsor Park on Wednesday, also live on Sky Sports; kick-of 7.45pm.
