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Agence France-Presse

Northern Ireland shocked Ukraine 2-0 in Euro 2016 Group C on Thursday thanks to goals from Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase at Euro 2016.
A flying header from veteran West Bromwich Albion defender McAuley and McGinn’s injury-time strike at a hailstone-battered Stade de Lyon gave Ireland their first ever goals at a European championships finals.
Having recovered after losing their Euro 2016 opener 1-0 to Poland, Michael O’Neill’s Irish now have everything to play for against world champions Germany in their final group game on Tuesday.
McAuley also wrote himself into the history books.

At 36 years and 194 days, he is the second oldest goalscorer at a Euro finals, after Ivica Vastic, who was two years, 63 days older when he converted a penalty for Austria against Poland at Euro 2008.
“Lots of people said we wouldn’t get a point here and now we’ve got three,” beamed man-of-the-match McAuley.
Northern Ireland had lost their opening group game 1-0 to Poland.
“We produced a great reaction after the Poland game and now we have something to show for it,” he said.
“These fans were with us no matter what,” said McAuley.
“We’ve got another tough game now against Germany but we’re delighted and hopefully we’ll grow more confident.”

The victory is just deserts for O’Neill.
The Northern Irish manager made five changes from his starting line-up after his side had failed to impose themselves on Poland, including dropping top scorer Kyle Lafferty.
O’Neill preferred to start QPR’s Conor Washington as striker instead of Norwich City’s Lafferty who had netted seven goals in qualifying to help the Irish reach the finals.
Ukraine coach Mykhailo Fomenko kept faith with the majority of the side which lost 2-0 to Germany last Sunday.
The Ukrainians must now beat Poland in Marseille next Tuesday, and hope the Irish lose heavily to Germany, to have any chance of progressing.
It was an impressive display from Northern Ireland, who fought their way back into the game.
They had struggled for first-half possession -- winning just 35 per cent in the first 45 minutes.
And the first clear chance for either side came with half an hour gone when Irish centre-back Craig Cathcart headed over.
Mother Nature played her part as the heavens opened over the Stade de Lyon for the start of the second-half.

It did little to hinder McAuley’s diving header, looping over Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov in a torrential downpour after a brilliant cross from Oliver Norwood on 49 minutes.
It was McAuley’s eighth international goal and none will be toasted more in Belfast.
The greasy ball was nearly in the Irish net minutes later as their goalkeeper Michael McGovern twice fumbled, then gathered, half chances from Taras Stepanenko, then Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Both teams struggled in the sodden conditions as a hail storm then battered the pitch and on 58 minutes Czech referee Pavel Kralovec decided enough was enough as he halted the game.
The players were back out three minutes later and Ukraine fought for the equaliser as Viktor Kovalenko fired wide of McGovern with 20 minutes left.
Ukraine peppered their opponents’ goal with long-range shots before McGinn slammed in just before the end to wrap up a famous win for his side.
The Green Army will now make their way to Paris’ Parc de Princes buoyed before they face Joachim Loew’s Germany.


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2016 Uefa European Championship (Euro 2016)

Northern Ireland stun Ukraine 2-0 for first ever Euros win

Gareth McAuley of Northern Ireland celebrates after scoring EPA / CJ GUNTHER EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Football Soccer - Ukraine v Northern Ireland - EURO 2016 - Group C - Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France - 16/6/16 Northern Ireland's Niall McGinn celebrates after scoring their second goal REUTERS/Max Rossi Livepic

epa05370195 Gareth McAuley (L) of Northern Ireland beats Yevhen Khacheridi of Ukraine to the header to score the 1-0 during the UEFA EURO 2016 group C preliminary round match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France, 16 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/CJ GUNTHER EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Football Soccer - Ukraine v Northern Ireland - EURO 2016 - Group C - Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France - 16/6/16 Northern Ireland head coach Michael O'Neill celebrates after Northern Ireland's Niall McGinn scores their second goal REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff Livepic

Ukraine's Yevhen Khacheridi leaves the pitch after play was briefly suspended in the 58th minute of the match because of hail, during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at the Grand Stade in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Thursday, June 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

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Football

Header from Gareth McAuley and late second from Niall McGinn seal historic victory - first at a major tournament since World Cup 82


Northern Ireland stun Ukraine 2-0 for first ever Euros win

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Header from Gareth McAuley and late second from Niall McGinn seal historic victory - first at a major tournament since World Cup 82

Header from Gareth McAuley and late second from Niall McGinn seal historic victory - first at a major tournament since World Cup 82