Northern Ireland's shock in Slovakia

In League B, Northern Ireland stunned Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia to go clear at the top of their group and boost their hopes of promotion to the top tier.

The fixture was staged at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium in Trnava, Slovakia, because Russia's invasion has forced Ukraine to play all home matches abroad since February 2022, as reported on 26 September.

Ciaron Brown, the only player in Michael O'Neill's starting line-up over the age of 24, scored twice either side of Isaac Price's goal in Trnava. The away win puts Northern Ireland on seven points from three games, and they are still yet to concede going into Monday's clash with Georgia in Belfast.

Northern Ireland's positive start was quickly rewarded as Kieran Morrison floated a corner to the back post where Ruairi McConville headed it back for Brown, earning his 33rd cap, to prod home despite the desperate efforts of Illia Zabarnyi on the line.

Georgiy Sudakov was the first Ukraine player to get a sight of goal but his 19th-minute effort was straight at keeper Pierce Charles, and moments later the hosts were 2-0 down. Morrison's first-time ball into the box was met powerfully by Price at the back post – earning Morrison an assist in his first competitive international.

Brown's second came in bizarre fashion just after the hour – the 28-year-old Oxford defender went up to flick on Pierce Charles' free-kick from inside the Northern Ireland half, and Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk let the bouncing ball slip through his legs to wrap up a remarkable result.

Kerkez seals Hungary win

In the other Group B2 tie, the Liverpool full-back Milos Kerkez scored the only goal to earn Hungary a 1-0 win over Georgia, moving the Magyars level with Ukraine in second place with four points from three games.