San Marino

Two goals from Bolton striker Dion Charles gave Michael O'Neill a winning start to his second spell as Northern Ireland manager in Serravalle.

I’m pleased with a lot of aspects of the performance. But we’ve got three points on the board and hopefully we can add to that.’ ‘We had three days of preparation with a group of players and a new coaching staff, and everything that goes along with that, but the players did everything we asked of them. ‘I’m delighted with the win obviously. Charles’ Bolton teammate Conor Bradley, on loan to Wanderers from Liverpool, was the other standout player as he raided up and down the right flank. ‘Thankfully tonight I got my second start and two international goals.

The goals were little surprise given he has bagged 18 in 42 appearances for Bolton this term.

Northern Ireland started slowly, enjoying plenty of the ball but offering little penetration. Northern Ireland, who have been seeking a reliable goalscorer for several years, will hope this was just the beginning. Northern Ireland would have welcomed a second to settle the game before the break but had to wait until the 55th minute, when Jamal Lewis sent in a deep cross from the left and Charles stooped to head home.

Bolton Wanderers striker Dion Charles scored in either half as Nothern Ireland breezed past San Marino to win their Group H opener in Euro 2024 qualifying.

Northern Ireland started slowly, enjoying plenty of the ball but offering little penetration. Northern Ireland would have welcomed a second to settle the game before the break but had to wait until the 55th minute, when Jamal Lewis sent in a deep cross from the left and Charles stooped to head home. The deadlock was broken when Northern Ireland used a quick free-kick to shift the ball right and Conor Washington sent in a low cross for his strike partner to turn in at the far post.

Bolton Wanderers striker Dion Charles scored in either half as Nothern Ireland breezed past San Marino to win their Group H opener in Euro 2024 qualifying.

Michael O'Neill kicked off his new reign with a 2-0 victory over San Marino on Thursday night. Dion Charles grabbed both goals for Northern Ireland as ...

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 ...

Northern Ireland started slowly, enjoying plenty of the ball but offering little penetration. Northern Ireland, who have been seeking a reliable goalscorer for several years, will hope this was just the beginning. Northern Ireland would have welcomed a second to settle the game before the break but had to wait until the 55th minute, when Jamal Lewis sent in a deep cross from the left and Charles stooped to head home.

Euro 2024 qualifier: San Marino 0-2 Northern Ireland Dion Charles has faced tougher defences, indeed he only finally broke his international duck in this, ...

The game seemed to enter a lull, but out of the blue it was two. The midfielder’s fine cross was headed powerfully downwards by McNair, but goalkeeper Elia Benedettini dived to his left to push it away. There seemed to be only one yellow top among the Green and White Army, who had little to sing about for a while. Bradley carried the ball forward well and when possession came across the field to Lewis he neatly flicked it on to George Saville. Dion Charles has faced tougher defences, indeed he only finally broke his international duck in this, his 14th appearance, but at least he did so at the double. Lewis lofted a lovely clipped cross from the left and Dion’s diving header beat Benedettini and a defender to cross the line.

Dion Charles' first international goals earned Northern Ireland a 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying victory over San Marino as Michael O'Neill made a winning start ...

Northern Ireland started slowly, enjoying plenty of the ball but offering little penetration. 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 10th 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.

Bolton striker Dion Charles took the headlines with his first international goals earning the victory in O'Neill's first match back in charge, but just as ...

What I see is a player who is learning so much every day and when he came into our environment I think he demonstrated that.” His game intelligence is very high for a player of that age. “Shea’s a very, very good player which we knew,” O’Neill said. “Two international games is a lot to ask a young player to play in the space of three days so we have to be mindful of that in terms of the team that we select on Sunday.” “Conor played pretty much as he always has every time I’ve gone and watched him,” O’Neill said. “What I see from Conor is a lad that because of his attitude, he’s got his feet firmly on the ground, he’s only going to continue to improve and he really does have a big future in front of him.”

Bolton striker Dion Charles took the headlines with his first international goals earning the victory in O'Neill's first match back in charge, but just as ...