Northern Ireland and Hungary meet for UEFA Nations League B Group 2 clash at Windsor Park in Belfast on Monday, September 28. Kickoff na 19:45 BST and the game dey live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One NI, BBC Three, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
At half time, the score na goalless. Northern Ireland be the better side, but dem no score. Stephen Craigan, former Motherwell defender on BBC Two NI, talk say e be encouraging first half so far. Northern Ireland don get best chances but lack composure to put ball for back of net. However, Michael O’Neill go dey delighted with how dem play.
Patrick Kelly don get three good chances to break deadlock. One chance, him cheeky lob na Hungarian goalkeeper Balazs Toth claim. Jana McCabe of BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park talk say Kelly don play every game for Barnsley so far this season and e don help him confidence on international stage as e look like real threat tonight.
Isaac Price dey show plenty confidence and composure. If anybody go make something happen, e likely be him. Price go close as ball break to him on edge of area but e curl effort over. John O’Neill, former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster, talk say e be great chance, but he totally surprised the ball land at him and couldn’t get right contact. Shea Charles block Szucs shot for edge of area to stop am reaching him brother for goal.
Tom Atcheson flick ball on and Shea Charles, heavily marked, no fit get toe to am for penalty spot. Ball fall to Patrick Kelly, who dey stretch, but e only loop onto woodwork. Justin Devenny hit left foot but e catch top of wall and danger bounce away.
Jamie Donley collect yellow card for catching Mark Csinger as he spin to race onto loose ball. Stephen Craigan call am very harsh. Apparently Michael O’Neill also shown yellow card for him appeals to Jamie Donley booking. Aron Csongvai enter book for lunging tackle on Trai Hume.
We get four minutes additional time. Ciaron Brown go fire in long throw. Bolla get stoppage for treatment, e no fit continue and Attila Osvath come on in him place. Ethan Galbraith look to find Jamie Donley, but Mark Csinger race across and put ball out of play.
Daniel Ballard go miss rest of international window through injury. Manager Michael O’Neill talk say Sunderland defender ‘hopefully’ fit return by him side next fixtures in November. The 27-year-old centre-back suffer hamstring injury for added time of him country 1-0 win over Georgia on Friday night and leave Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena on crutches.
Having return to Black Cats, dem rule am out of Monday night hosting of Hungary and e also go miss subsequent trip to Ukraine and return fixture against Georgia. ‘He needs to be assessed by his club’s medical staff and we want him fit as soon as possible for Sunderland and obviously for ourselves,’ O’Neill talk. ‘People recognise how big a presence he is in the Premier League for Sunderland, but naturally he’s a huge presence for us here as well. We can only wish him the speediest of recovery possible and hopefully we’ll see him in November.’
Ballard latest injury continue luckless run for one of Northern Ireland key figures. Since start of 2024 Nations League, Northern Ireland don play 21 internationals but former Arsenal man feature for just 10. Similar story with Liverpool Conor Bradley, currently sidelined after January knee surgery, who don win 13 caps during same period.
‘We’ve not had enough of him, that’s nobody’s fault, it’s just nature of football and unfortunate nature of being injured in football,’ O’Neill talk. ‘When Conor get injured, we know Conor go dey out for long period. With Daniel, he no get injury of that significance but he get injuries that coincide with plenty international football, so he don very unlucky with that side. It’s more disappointment for player because I know how badly he want to come and play and how badly he want to play for him club.’
With O’Neill favoured system involving back-three, for Georgia na Blackburn Tom Atcheson and Oxford United Ciaron Brown start alongside Ballard. Hull City Paddy McNair be one of squad most experienced players, while Norwich Ruairi McConville also feature regularly in recent windows. For him first stint as Northern Ireland manager, O’Neill get host of reliable centre-backs and e pleased to dey develop strength in depth at position again. ‘It’s as strong as it’s been for a long time, if I’m honest,’ he talk. ‘You look back to teams of past, when we had Aaron Hughes, Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley, Craig Cathcart, we had really good options at centre-back, all playing at good level. I think with this team we have players who are at different stage of career but with huge potential, Ruairi and Tom in particular.’
Ticket wise, Northern Ireland host Hungary for Windsor Park in Belfast on Monday, September 28, opening their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign in League B, Group 2 alongside Ukraine and Georgia. The two sides meet again for return fixture at Puskas Arena in Budapest in November. Tickets for Belfast leg dey first made available through Irish Football Association official ticketing channels, with priority typically given to season ticket holders and members before any remaining allocation go to general sale. Official Hungarian Football Federation channels be equivalent first stop for Budapest return leg.
Given Windsor Park limited capacity, early booking strongly recommended for Belfast leg. Official pricing for Belfast leg through IFA start from around €80, with full range from standard to premium seating available at face value while allocation last. Official MLSZ pricing for Budapest leg start from around €65. Ticombo be your way to go if listings on official site sold out, with secondary market listings for Belfast leg currently starting significantly higher given stadium limited capacity and strong early demand. Prices fit shift quickly as matchday approach, so locking in your seat sooner rather than later generally safer if you dey work to specific budget.
