Wednesday’s Pierce Charles kept a clean sheet on his Northern Ireland senior debut this evening in a 0-0 Nations League group qualifier against Belarus.
Both keeper Charles and his brother, Shea, played the full 90 minutes in a game staged behind closed doors in Hungary, due to UEFA restrictions on Belarus.
Northern Ireland dominated the first half but paid for missed chances and the closest they came to breaking the deadlock was just before the half-hour mark when Shea Charles’ excellent free kick was headed onto the inside of the post by Eoin Toal before being cleared.
Wednesday loanee Charles caught the eye throughout in midfield and with his dead ball deliveries while Pierce was rarely troubled but looked assured when called into action.
Northern Ireland’s next League C Group 3 qualifier is on Tuesday evening when they are at home to Bulgaria and go into the game a point behind joint leaders Belarus and the Bulgarians.