International Matches - Under 21

Northern Ireland 3 - Spain 5

N. Ireland: Mitchell; Hall, Donnelly, Johnson; Dummigan (Paul 44’), McDermott, Thompson, Sykes, Whyte (Kennedy 72’); Lavery (McDonagh 84’), Smyth. 3-5-2.
Spain: Sivera; Unai Núñez, Jorge Meré, Aarón Martín; Mikel Merino; Fabián, Dani Ceballos, Pablo Fornals (Adama Traoré 76‘); Carlos Soler, Borja Mayoral (Carlos Luna 87‘), Oyarzabal (Toni Lato 89’). 3-4-3.

Goals:
0-1. 15. Oyarzabal. Angle shot past Mitchell from Ceballos pass.
1-1. 30. Donnelly (penalty). After Merino brought down Whyte.
1-2. 44. Oyarzabal. Picked up long Merino pass to beat Mitchell.
2-2. 45+2. Donnelly. Scuffed shot from wide Thompson free kick.
2-3. 47. Borja Mayoral. Back-heel past keeper from Soler cross.
3-3. 68. Lavery. Latched on to loose ball to fire shot past Sivera.
3-4. 75. Borja Mayoral. Turned Oyarzabal centre in on far post.
3-5. 85. Borja Mayoral. Far post header from Soler centre.

Yellow cards: Thompson 02’, Fabián 08’.

Spain’s under 21 side moved five points clear at the top of their group after a high scoring 3-5 win against Northern Ireland on Thursday. Albert Celades’ side took the lead three times, twice through Oyarzabal and then through Borja Mayoral, but two from Donelly (the first a penalty) and a strike by Lavery pegged them back each time. Mayoral scored two more though in the last quarter of an hour to complete a hat-trick and keep up Spain’s 100% record at the mid-point of the league stage.