Euro 2016 : Ireland go north with Ukraine win

Northern Ireland players dive as they celebrate a goal in their Group C match against Ukraine at the Grand Stade in Decines-Â Charpieu near Lyon, France, on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

Northern Ireland shocked Ukraine 2-0 in Group C game on Thursday thanks to goals from Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

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 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.

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.

Ukraine coach Mykhailo Fomenko kept faith with the majority of the side which lost 0-2 to Germany last Sunday.

Ukraine must now beat Poland in Marseille next Tuesday, and hope the Irish lose heavily to Germany, to have any chance of progressing.