Northern Ireland create chances but settle for goalless draw with Georgia

Northern Ireland and Georgia finished 0‑0 in the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match at Windsor Park. The home side produced 1.84 expected goals from 15 shots, five on target, and 40 touches inside the box, while Georgia managed only 0.32 xG from seven shots and two on target. The mismatch between chance creation and the score line defined the encounter.

Georgia held 58 % of possession in the opening 45 minutes, but Northern Ireland’s 3‑4‑2‑1 shape kept the visitors to the final third. The home side registered 42 % possession, five shots (two on target), five corners and 17 touches in the box. Isaac Price, operating behind the striker, posted an xG of 0.82 – the highest of the match – though his effort did not find the net. Georgia conceded a single yellow card early and kept a compact 4‑2‑3‑1 that produced one shot on target. Northern Ireland won 25 duels to Georgia’s 25 in the period, completed 145 accurate passes (82 %) and played 56 passes into the opposition half, while Georgia finished the half with 233 accurate passes (87 %) and 68 opposition‑half passes. The visitors also committed eight fouls and picked up their first caution.

After the interval Northern Ireland pressed higher, possession fell to 35 % as Georgia took 65 % of the ball. Despite the lower share, the Irish xG jumped from 0.13 to 1.71, driven by ten shots (three on target) and two big chances: a curling effort from Shea Charles that rattled the post and a low drive from Price that forced a fingertip save from Giorgi Mamardashvili. Northern Ireland won 48 duels to Georgia’s 18 in the period, while the visitors added three more yellow cards for a total of four. Corners fell 3‑4 in favour of Georgia and touches in the box rose to 23‑12. The home side completed 110 accurate passes (76 %) and 57 passes into the opposition half, compared with Georgia’s 243 accurate passes (89 %) and 83 opposition‑half passes. Northern Ireland committed four fouls without a card, while Georgia fouled six times and received three additional cautions.

Northern Ireland’s 3‑4‑2‑1 forced Georgia into a low block, limiting the visitors to 12 touches in the box. The Irish midfielders, especially Shea Charles and Justin Devenny, won 73 duels overall, disrupting Georgian passing lanes. Passing accuracy favoured Georgia – 476 accurate passes (88 %) versus Northern Ireland’s 255 (79 %) – although the home side completed 113 passes in the opposition half compared with Georgia’s 151. Northern Ireland committed nine fouls without a card, while Georgia fouled 14 times and collected four yellow cards. The match ended goalless despite Northern Ireland’s edge in shots (15‑7), shots on target (5‑2), corners (8‑4), touches in the box (40‑17) and expected goals (1.84‑0.32).

FotMob.