Northern Ireland 0-0 Georgia: Price misses late penalty

Isaac Price’s late penalty miss left Northern Ireland ruing what might have been as they were held to a goalless draw by Georgia at Windsor Park, a result that nevertheless keeps Michael O’Neill’s side top of their Uefa Nations League group.

The decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute. Ruairi McConville’s header from a corner crashed against the crossbar during a frantic goalmouth scramble, and in the ensuing chaos a foul on the defender — a high boot to the head — was eventually confirmed by VAR. Price stepped up, but Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili dived the right way to push the spot-kick away, denying Northern Ireland the victory their pressure had deserved.

It was a frustrating evening for the hosts, who remain the only side yet to concede in this season’s competition and extended their clean-sheet run to four successive matches. Pierce Charles produced important saves from Zuriko Davitashvili and Giorgi Tsitaishvili to protect that record, while at the other end Mamardashvili was equally busy, denying Jamie Donley and later producing a fine stop from substitute Josh Magennis.

Northern Ireland had created the clearer opportunities throughout. In the first half Patrick Kelly found himself through on goal only to hesitate, allowing Georgia to recover. Tom Atcheson also felt he should have been awarded a penalty before the break. After the interval the home side pushed harder, with Magennis and McConville both coming close before Price’s decisive miss. Georgia, still without a goal in the Nations League and winless under new coach Ramaz Svanadze, offered flashes of quality through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but rarely threatened to break the deadlock.

The draw leaves Northern Ireland one point clear of Hungary at the summit of Group B2 after a highly productive international window that has already delivered an away win in Tbilisi and a 3-0 victory over Ukraine. While the point maintains their unbeaten start and preserves their defensive record, the late drama ensured the final whistle brought more frustration than celebration. O’Neill’s young side had done enough to win, yet once again found Mamardashvili an immovable obstacle.