Dion Charles bags brace as Northern Ireland beat San Marino in Euro 2024 qualifiers

Dion Charles' first international goals earned Northern Ireland a Euro 2024 qualifying victory over San Marino as Michael O'Neill made a winning start to his second spell in charge.

Charles broke his international duck when he prodded home in the 24th minute, and then headed home a second ten minutes into the second half as Northern Ireland opened their Group H account with three points.

Charles had gone 13 internationals without scoring before this match, but the goals were little surprise given he has bagged 18 in 42 appearances for Bolton this term. Northern Ireland, who have been seeking a reliable goalscorer for several years, will hope this was just the beginning.

O’Neill, who returned in December to the job he left in 2020, had to wait until the tenth match of his first reign for a victory but there was no such delay against a side last in the FIFA rankings and yet to win a competitive international, this being their 167th attempt.

This was not the resounding win so many sides – Northern Ireland included – have enjoyed in Serravalle over the years, but O’Neill’s only concern was getting three points to kick-start the campaign and to that end, this was a case of job done before Sunday’s home match against Finland.

It took only three minutes for the 1,000 travelling fans to call for a wave from the man who led them to Euro 2016 and the 53-year-old willingly obliged.

Northern Ireland started slowly, enjoying plenty of the ball but offering little penetration. O’Neill went with a 3-5-2 system rather than his preferred 4-3-3, a decision perhaps enforced given the lengthy injury list which had denied him the services of so many veterans of his previous reign.

Charles’ Bolton team-mate Conor Bradley was the brightest spark but