Isaac Price missed a late penalty as Northern Ireland were held to a goalless draw by Georgia, which still keeps them top of their Nations League group.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was right to save Price’s spot-kick in the 84th minute after a combination of Nodar Lominadze and Saba Sazonov tripped Ruairi McConville as he sent a header against the crossbar during a verbal scuffle.
Jamie Donley and Josh Magennis also brought saves from Mamardashvili and Tom Atcheson felt there should have been a penalty in the first half, but Northern Ireland were deadlocked for the second time in a week at Windsor Park.
Georgia, who are yet to score in this season’s Nations League, responded to their 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland in Tbilisi 11 days ago by dismissing Willy Sagnol, but Ramaz Svanadze is still waiting for his first win in charge despite Khvicha Kvaratskhelia showing his flashes in the second half.
Northern Ireland started the night as the only side yet to concede in this season’s Nations League, and Pierce Charles made great saves from Zuriko Davitashvili and Giorgi Tsitaishvili to make it four clean sheets in a row for the first time since 2017.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, unscathed in his nine appearances, ensured Michael O’Neill’s side stayed top of Group B2 by a single point from Hungary.
Northern Ireland’s confidence showed in their positive intent early on, but it took time to overcome a Georgia side who doggedly defended their box.
McConville was the first to test Mamardashvili as he met Justin Devenny’s cross, but his header was pushed to safety.
With Northern Ireland fans chanting “Who are you?” Ballon d’Or contender Kvaratskhelia created the visitors’ clearest chance so far as Davitashvili turned and hit a powerful shot that brought out a brilliant save from Pierce Charles.
Northern Ireland quickly regained the lead and when Trai Hume’s long shot was allowed to bounce into the box, an impromptu curling effort from Donley saw Mamardashvili head over again.
Patrick Kelly was then charged into the box but made the wrong choice in trying to find Donley as his cross was cleared, and Atcheson couldn’t believe he was the one penalized for a clash with Sazonov, but the decision was upheld by a VAR review.
Northern Ireland tried to replicate that fluency after the break with some loose passes, and there was a further blow just after the hour mark when Ethan Galbraith, full of ideas about his return to the side after welcoming a lad, was sent off.
Georgia were growing in confidence and Pierce Charles did well to take a deflected shot from Tsitaishvili before Kvaratskhelia burst over.
It ended chaotically. When Shea Charles won the ball on the edge of the box, he ran for Magennis who forced a save from Mamardashvili.
From the resulting corner, McConville rose but took a boot to the face from Lominadze and a push from Sazonov, with Austrian referee Sebastian Gishamer awarding the penalty after being sent to the screen.
Price, who scored his first goal in 10 internationals against Ukraine on Friday, stepped up but it was a comfortable save for the Georgia goalkeeper.
With almost the last kick of the game, Georgia appealed in vain for a penalty after Callum Marshall collided with Sazonov in the corner of the Northern Ireland box.
Northern Ireland’s upcoming Nations League Group B2 matches
- Saturday, November 14 – Ukraine (H), start at 7:45 p.m
- Tuesday 17 November – Hungary (A), start at 19.45
