THE self-deprecating chant of ‘We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland’ was replaced by ‘It’s just like watching Brazil’ as Northern Ireland blew Bulgaria away. Perhaps for the first time ever, ‘We want six’ was briefly belted out too near the end of superb showing.
Belfast’s traffic problems may have delayed the filling up of the full house at Windsor Park but the home fans were delighted as long-awaited goals arrived like the proverbial buses – including a hat-trick from Isaac Price, an own goal, and the last from sub Josh Magennnis.
Playing in behind the front two, Standard Liege midfielder Price registered the first home hat-trick since David Healy famously did so to defeat Spain 3-2 in September 2006.
After the frustrations of failing to score away to Bulgaria and against Belarus on neutral ground last Saturday Northern Ireland returned home and again found their goal touch – and then some.
Two goals from Price and an own goal from visiting goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov, after a great low drive by Brodie Spencer came back off the base of the post, had the hosts in dreamland, 3-0 up at the break.
The ‘nil’ part of that scoreline was celebrated as loudly as any of the goals when Bulgaria captain Kiril Despodov crashed a mysteriously awarded penalty off the crossbar just before the break.
The hosts continued to dominate in the second period and Price notched a brilliant third with 80 minutes played before substitute Magennis spanked in a late fifth.
As promised, Michael O’Neill freshened up his side, bringing in Ali McCann to central midfield and Spencer at left wing-back, for George Saville and Jamal Lewis respectively. Up front, Dion Charles became the third player with that surname on the pitch, replacing Jamie Reid.
Each of those three alterations made the men in green even younger than the side which lined out against Belarus at the weekend – with 20-year-old Spencer joining five others aged 21 or younger: Pierce (19) and Shea Charles (20), Conor Bradley and Isaac Price (both 21), and Callum Marshall (19).
All three of the players brought in enhanced the team too, with McCann adding bite to midfield and Dion Charles unlucky to have a goal ruled out, while Spencer excelled at left wing-back.
Bulgaria boss Ilian Iliev also changed it up from their disappointing goalless draw at home to Luxembourg, with four alterations – two Petrovs into defence, Simeon and Hristiyan, Serkan Yusein in midfield, and Martin Minchev in attack.
Shea Charles showed the hosts’ intent, the supposed defensive midfielder driving well forward on several occasions early on.
Spencer also began brightly, but being right-footed on the left initially seemed to limit his ability to offer an overlap, while he also had to watch Despodov, the only goalscorer last month in Plovdiv.
However, the Huddersfield Town defender used his head to flick the ball on up the left and Dion Charles did well to win the ball off Zhivko Atanasov – then brilliantly to bend a pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Price, who gleefully rammed to the net in the 15th minute.
The home team were already showing their intent to play attractive, passing football.
Straight forward passes aren’t always straightforward, and that was the case with two delightful links in the lead-up to the second goal. Teenage goalkeeper Pierce Charles showed his confidence by waiting with the ball at his feet before picking out his brother Shea in midfield.
He then advanced before splitting the defence with a direct through-pass to Spencer, who showed his left foot isn’t just for standing on by cutting in and cutting the ball back to Dion Charles.
The striker seemed to be tugged down by Kostadinov but the referee signalled advantage and Price took it in style, superbly whipping a shot which flew into the far top corner of the net via a slight deflection off Simeon Petrov.
Three minute later Price turned provider, although all the credit should go to Spencer. Receiving the ball out wide, he drifted infield before unleashing a fierce low right-foot drive – it came back off the upright but struck the diving Mitov on the back and went in.
The joyous atmosphere was briefly punctured when referee awarded a penalty, apparently spotting a foul on Bulgaria striker Minchev, although repeated replays showed nothing clear.
Despodov had to wait more than three minutes to take the spot-kick – and went for power more than accuracy, to his cost.
The only downside of the first half for NI was that centre back Eoin Toal jarred his knee during the penalty incident and had to be replaced by Ciaron Brown.
Bulgaria made two half-time changes, and also altered their formation to match up more to that of their opponents. Defender Valentin Antov came on for Yusein as part of a back three/ five, while left-sided attacker Zdravko Dimitrov replaced Radoslav Kirilov.
However, although Bulgarian started the second half with more spark it was Dion Charles who should have got the game’s fourth goal, but when the ball came luckily to him he slashed a shot wide of the near post.
Understandably the hosts’ intensity level dropped somewhat, but they still won a series of corners which were whipped dangerously across by Shea Charles and Marshall.
Pierce Charles then demonstrated his passing ability with a stunning ball over the top to Conor Bradley, who dinked the ball over the goalkeeper, and although Antov hooked it off the line, Dion Charles finished to the net. Unfortunately what seemed a wonderful fourth goal was ruled out for offside against skipper Bradley.
Yet Northern Ireland would not be denied, and Price completed his hat-trick with a fabulous finish. The excellent Shea Charles won the ball in the left channel and slipped it to the Standard Liege midfielder, who shifted it slightly before sending a beauty into the ‘postage stamp’.
The fifth was a cracker too, with two substitutes combining, after Price and Charles had been brought off to standing ovations. Paul Smyth raced down the right and cut the ball back to Magennis, who belted his shot in off the bar.
A great end to an unbelievable night as Northern Ireland’s young stars soared to the top of the group and enhanced their hopes of promotion.
Northern Ireland (3-4-1-2): P Charles; Hume, McNair, Toal (Brown, 45, inj.); Bradley (capt.), S Charles (Magennis, 85), McCann, Spencer; Price (Lyons, 85); D Charles (Reid, 74), Marshall (Smyth, 74).
Bulgaria (4-1-2-3): Mitov; Popov, Atanasov, S Petrov, H Petrov; Kostadinov; Krastev, Yusein (Antov, h-t); Despodov (capt.), M Minchev (G Minchev, 85), Kirilov (Dimitrov, h-t).
Referee: Jerome Brisard (France).
Attendance: 17,891.
