Dream debut goal for Reid as Northern Ireland secure encouraging draw in Romania
Jamie Reid scored just seven minutes into his international debut as Northern Ireland earned an encouraging 1-1 draw away to Romania.
Stevenage striker Reid, getting his first taste of international football at the age of 29, gave Michael O’neill’s men a dream start in Bucharest.
Euro 2024-bound Romania hit back when Dennis Man beat Conor Hazard for power in the 23rd minute, but O’neill’s men will take confithe dence from the way they faced up to a side now unbeaten in 12 games as Conor Bradley shone on his return to Northern Ireland duty. They will head into Tuesday’s friendly against Scotland in Glasgow in buoyant mood.
Reid may have been making his debut more than a decade after featuring for Northern Ireland Under-21s, but he was still the oldest player in a starting XI with an average age of 23.5. His goal was created by two 20-year-olds, with Bradley bursting down the right before slipping the ball inside for Shea Charles on the edge of the box.
shot was potentially on for the Southampton man, but Charles saw the run of Reid to his left and squared the ball. Reid, earning his chance after scoring 21 goals in 44 games for Stevenage this season, lifted it over Florin Nita and in off the underside of the crossbar.
But, for all the promise going forward, Northern Ireland let themselves down when Romania levelled.
Man was able to slip between Brodie Spencer and Eoin Toal to bring down a raking long ball from deep and then cut back inside to create an angle. His shot was straight at Hazard, starting for the fourth time in five internationals, but it went straight through the goalkeeper’s hands.
Both teams had lost their zip. Reid ran out of legs as he charged at goal in the 70th minute and it was his last act before being replaced by Josh Magennis.
There were late chances for Northern Ireland, but Paddy Mcnair’s shot was straight at Nita in the 79th minute before Price’s effort was turned wide. At the other end, Ianis Hagi shot straight at Peacock-farrell from the edge of the area, but the draw was a fair result.