Match report

Northern Ireland Defeats Luxembourg 1-0 in World Cup Qualification

Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
1–0
FT
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Nov 17, 2025

Northern Ireland secured a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Luxembourg in their World Cup Qualification Europe match. The decisive moment came in the 44th minute when J. Donley converted a penalty after the VAR confirmed the foul on Ciaron Brown. Despite several yellow cards, Northern Ireland held strong to secure all three points.

Key Facts

  • • J. Donley scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the 44th minute.
  • • Ciaron Brown was fouled in the box, leading to the penalty confirmed by VAR.
  • • Luxembourg's Anthony Moris and Seid Korać received yellow cards in the 43rd and 56th minutes, respectively.
  • • Northern Ireland made five substitutions: C. Bradley, Bradley Lyons, C. Marshall, J. McDonnell, and J. Lewis.

Lineups

Northern Ireland

Formation: 3-4-3

Starting XI

  • 12 C. Hazard (G)
  • 13 R. McConville (D)
  • 17 P. McNair (D)
  • 22 C. Brown (D)
  • 2 C. Bradley (M)
  • 16 B. Lyons (M)
  • 20 J. McDonnell (M)
  • 3 J. Lewis (M)
  • 7 E. Galbraith (F)
  • 10 J. Donley (F)
  • 14 I. Price (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 J. Clarke
  • 23 L. Southwood
  • 4 E. Toal
  • 5 R. Johnson
  • 6 T. Devlin
  • 8 C. Marshall
  • 9 D. Charles
  • 11 P. Smyth
  • 15 J. Devenny
  • 18 R. McCausland
  • 19 P. Kelly
  • 21 J. Magennis

Luxembourg

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 A. Moris (G)
  • 22 M. Martins (D)
  • 2 S. Korac (D)
  • 13 D. Carlson (D)
  • 18 L. Jans (D)
  • 19 M. Olesen (M)
  • 16 L. Barreiro (M)
  • 15 O. Thill (M)
  • 8 C. Martins (M)
  • 7 A. Dardari (M)
  • 10 D. Sinani (F)

Substitutes

  • 23 L. Fox
  • 3 A. Embalo
  • 4 M. Mustafic
  • 5 A. Curci
  • 6 T. de Sousa
  • 9 K. Avdusinovic
  • 11 E. Muratovic
  • 14 E. Veiga
  • 17 V. Selimovic
  • 20 E. Dzogovic
  • 21 S. Thill
  • 12 T. Pereira Cardoso

Timeline

  1. Northern Ireland
    41' Northern Ireland Var · Penalty confirmed
    Ciaron Brown
  2. Luxembourg
    43' Luxembourg Card · Yellow Card
    Anthony Moris

    Argument

  3. Northern Ireland
    44' Northern Ireland Goal · Penalty
    J. Donley
  4. Northern Ireland
    46' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 1
    Off: C. Bradley · On: T. Devlin
  5. Northern Ireland
    52' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Bradley Lyons · On: P. Smyth
  6. Luxembourg
    56' Luxembourg Card · Yellow Card
    Seid Korać

    Argument

  7. Northern Ireland
    67' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 3
    Off: J. Donley · On: C. Marshall
  8. Northern Ireland
    67' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. McDonnell · On: J. Magennis
  9. Luxembourg
    67' Luxembourg subst · Substitution 1
    Off: M. Olesen · On: T. de Sousa
  10. Luxembourg
    67' Luxembourg subst · Substitution 2
    Off: A. Dardari · On: K. Avdusinovic
  11. Luxembourg
    80' Luxembourg subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Olivier Thill · On: E. Muratović
  12. Northern Ireland
    81' Northern Ireland Card · Yellow Card
    Ruairi McConville

    Foul

  13. Northern Ireland
    82' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 5
    Off: J. Lewis · On: P. Kelly
  14. Luxembourg
    85' Luxembourg Card · Yellow Card
    D. Sinani

    Argument

  15. Luxembourg
    87' Luxembourg subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Marvin Martins · On: E. Dzogovic
  16. Luxembourg
    90'+3 Luxembourg Card · Yellow Card
    T. de Sousa

    Argument

Match Stats

Stat Northern Ireland Luxembourg
Fouls 11 18
Pass Accuracy 69% 78%
Offsides 1 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 9 12
Corners 5 2
Total Passes 316 489
Yellow Cards 4 6
Blocked Shots 2 4
Shots on Target 3 3
xG 1.34 0.55
Shots off Target 4 5
Possession 40% 60%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 217 382
Shots Inside Box 6 3
Saves 3 2
Shots Outside Box 3 9

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The 44th-minute penalty conversion by J. Donley gave Northern Ireland the lead and a psychological advantage.
  • ▸ Luxembourg's early yellow cards to Anthony Moris and Seid Korać hindered their momentum and contributed to their inability to equalize.