BELFAST — Northern Ireland set a record of 10 games unbeaten with a 1-0 victory over Slovenia in a friendly international Monday as it prepares for its first European Championship.
The narrow win at Windsor Park, thanks to Conor Washington’s first-half goal, meant manager Michael O’Neill eclipsed the achievement of Billy Bingham, whose Northern Ireland side twice went nine games undefeated in the 1980s.
Man-of-the-Match Washington scored after 41 minutes with his first international goal on his second appearance for the country.
The Queens Park Rangers striker outmuscled Miral Samardzic and then barged Nejc Skubic out of the way before cutting inside Bostjan Cesar and firing a low shot past Jan Oblak.
The 23-year-old, who was at non-league St Ives Town only five years ago, qualifies for Northern Ireland through his grandmother but had never actually visited the country until he was called up to the squad.
Veteran goalkeeper Roy Carroll, 38, preserved the home side’s lead when he saved Milivoje Novakovic’s penalty after 66 minutes after Jonny Evans had hauled Samardzic to the ground.
The Irish host Belarus and visit Slovakia in their last two friendlies before starting the Euro 2016 campaign against Poland and then facing Ukraine and world champion Germany. Slovenia failed to qualify for this year’s European Championship after losing a qualifying playoff to Ukraine.
Ukraine beats Wales
In Kiev, Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko scored with a half-volley from a clever set-piece to secure a 1-0 win over Wales as the teams continued preparing for Euro 2016 with a friendly also Monday.
Dynamo Kiev winger Yarmolenko, who has been linked with several English clubs, made the breakthrough in the 28th minute after latching on to Ruslan Rotan’s chipped free-kick. Ukraine, which qualified for the Euros through the playoffs, faces world champion Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland in France, while Wales tackles England, Russia and Slovakia.
Four clubs fined
Four clubs have been fined for breaching FIFA rules which ban third parties from influencing transfer policy or from owning players, soccer’s world governing body said Tuesday.
Dutch club FC Twente was fined 185,000 Swiss francs ($190,000), Brazil’s Santos 75,000, Belgium’s St Truiden 60,000 and Spain’s Sevilla 55,000 by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.
All four clubs were also issued with warnings while FC Twente, St Truiden and Santos were given reprimands, FIFA said.
