Northern Ireland rewards beyond result as Tom Atcheson scores winner then ends first start with red card as young players given big moments against Guinea
In a game measured by gains beyond goals, minutes for Northern Ireland’s next generation offered Michael O’Neill the most important outcome of a 1-0 win against Guinea.
With the high-profile friendly to come on Monday against international superstars France, this meeting was more about high temperatures in the Cadiz region of Spain with the Rock of Gibraltar part of a picturesque backdrop.
Manager O’Neill offered an insight into his mindset in a first match since signing a welcome contract extension by handing first starts to 19-year-olds Tom Atcheson and Kieran Morrison. With an average age of 22.1 years old, it put the starting 11 in the record books as Northern Ireland’s youngest line-up since World War II.
Defender Atcheson showed his attacking instincts to break the deadlock after nine minutes with slick movement to find space inside the penalty area and convert off a close-range flick from Isaac Price’s right-wing cross. But Atcheson’s dream big start later featured a nightmare dismissal on 72 minutes with a red card following his foul to deny Abdoul Traore’s path to goal.
Eighteen-year-old forwards Braiden Graham and Ceadach O'Neill both started on the substitutes’ bench – with the latter rewarded for a first call-up to the senior camp with second-half minutes.
Guinea goalkeeper Soumaila Sylla was on hand to deal with Jamie Donley’s early deflected strike ahead of the Atcheson finish – with Pierce Charles called into action between the Northern Ireland posts at 1-0 to tip over Mohamed Toure's curling attempt.
Charles, just past the half-hour mark, produced another smart stop to save Ibrahima Bangoura’s drive, with Traore firing wide off the rebound for a Guinea side sitting a double-figure tally of places below O’Neill’s men in the FIFA World Rankings.
Shea Charles has been tipped for a Premier League transfer over the summer window and provided evidence of his ability with a driving run from midfield only stopped by a foul.
Northern Ireland started the second half with a penalty appeal waved away after Justin Devenny’s pass into the path of Brodie Spencer.
Price then picked out Jamie Donley in space on the edge of the box after 56 minutes but the effort lacked the power to test Sylla.
A combination of substitute goalkeeper Luke Southwood and defender Ruairi McConville produced quickfire blocks on the line to deny Ibrahima Fofana then Traore inside moments before Atcheson’s red.
Arsenal’s O’Neill cut inside off the left and fired a low drive goalwards for 10-man Northern Ireland, with Sylla unable to hold the initial effort but alert to get up and block Jamie Reid’s follow-up with superb reactions.
Southwood pulled off an acrobatic late stop to push Traore’s long-range drive on to the crossbar.
NORTHERN IRELAND: P.Charles, Atcheson, McConville, Brown, Smyth, Devenny, S.Charles, McDonnell, Price, Morrison, Donley. Subs: Southwood, Charles, Hume, Spencer, McCann, Kelly, Galbraith, Magennis, Marshall, Reid, O'Neill, Graham.