Northern Ireland earn Nations League promotion despite Luxembourg draw

Northern Ireland saw a two-goal lead disappear in the space of three minutes but a 2-2 Nations League draw with Luxembourg was still enough for Michael O'Neill's side to earn promotion as winners of Group 3C.

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Northern Ireland looked to be in control after Isaac Price fired them ahead in the 19th minute and Conor Bradley doubled the advantage early in the second half, but Seid Korac got Luxembourg back into it in the 72nd minute and moments later Gerson Rodrigues fired in an equaliser.

It set up a tense finish at the Stade de Luxembourg but Northern Ireland hung on and the point, coupled with a 1-1 draw between Bulgaria and Belarus, saw them top the group by two points.

But while Northern Ireland can celebrate promotion, O'Neill will be frustrated to have let slip what looked like a comfortable lead as his side sought their first competitive away win since beating San Marino 2-0 in March last year - his first game back as manager.

O'Neill made two changes from Friday's 2-0 win over Belarus in Belfast, one enforced, and together they brought the average age down to 22.2 - Northern Ireland's youngest starting XI since World War II.

Ruairi McConville, who made his debut as a late substitute last week, came in for the suspended Ciaron Brown, and there was a first start for Ethan Galbraith, his fourth cap coming five years after he made his debut in a friendly against the same opposition.

The Leyton Orient midfielder was part of a bright, composed start from Northern Ireland who moved the ball well, with Dion Charles almost through on goal but for a late Korac challenge in the ninth minute.

Northern Ireland's midfield pairing of Shea Charles and Ali McCann were again effective in winning back possession, and in