Northern Ireland Holds Iceland 1-0 Despite Red Card in Friendly

Northern Ireland secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Iceland in a friendly match at Windsor Park, with Isaac Price scoring the decisive goal in the first half. Despite being reduced to 10 men following Brodie Spencer's controversial red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, the young Northern Ireland squad showed great resilience and defensive cohesion to hold on for the win. Manager Michael O'Neill praised his team's character and determination, acknowledging a slow start but emphasizing their ability to adapt and defend under pressure. Price not only scored but also made a crucial goal-line clearance, and his goal moved him level with some of Northern Ireland's top scorers historically. O'Neill noted the team will need to improve ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers but is encouraged by the momentum and grit shown. Meanwhile, Ireland U21s drew 0-0 with Qatar U23 in a friendly, with manager Jim Crawford highlighting promising performances from several young players and stressing the importance of competitiveness as they prepare for the Euro 2027 qualifiers.