Isaac Price missed a late penalty as Northern Ireland were held to a goalless draw by Georgia, despite leading their Nations League group.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Nodar Lominadze and Saba Sazonov combined to save Price’s 84th-minute shot after fouling Ruairi McConville.
Jamie Donley and Josh Magennis also brought saves from Mamardashvili and Tom Atcheson, who should have had a penalty in the first half, but Northern Ireland were deadlocked for the second time in a week at Windsor Park.
Georgia, who are yet to score in this season’s Nations League, responded to their 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in Tbilisi 11 days ago by dismissing Willy Sagnol, but Ramaz Svanadze is still waiting for his first win in charge despite Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s second-half brilliance.
Northern Ireland started the night as the only side yet to concede a goal in this season’s Nations League, with Pearce Charles making great saves from Zuriko Davitashvili and Giorgi Tsitaishvili to make it four clean sheets in a row for the first time since 2017.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper’s seventh clean sheet in nine competitive games secured Michael O’Neill’s side a point clear of Hungary in Group B2.
Northern Ireland showed confidence in their positive early intent, but it took time to break down a Georgia side who doggedly defended their box.
Meeting Justin Devenny’s pass, McConville tested Mamardashvili first but his header was pushed to safety.
Northern Ireland fans chanting “Who are you?” In Ballon d’Or contenders Kvaratskhelia, the visitors created their clearest chance yet when Davitashvili moved free and produced a powerful shot that brought out an excellent save from Piers Charles.
Northern Ireland soon regained the lead and when Trai Hume’s long throw was allowed to bounce in the box, Donley’s improvised looping effort turned back Mamardashvili.
Patrick Kelly then attacked the box but made the wrong choice to find Donley as his cross was picked out and Atcheson couldn’t believe he was the man booked for a collision with Sazonov, but the decision was upheld by a VAR review.
Northern Ireland struggled to replicate that fluency with some loose passing after the break, and there was another blow just after the hour when Ethan Galbraith, who was full of thoughts of returning to the side after welcoming the baby boy, ran over.
Georgia’s confidence grew and Pearce was able to collect Tsitaishvili’s offside kick before Charles Kvaratskhelia burst into flames.
It ended chaotically. When Shea Charles won the ball on the edge of the box, he ran to Magennis, who forced a save from Mamardashvili.
From the resulting corner, McConville got to his feet, but Lominadze took a boot to the face and was shoved by Sazonov, with Austrian referee Sebastian Gishamer awarding a penalty after being sent to the screen.
Price, who scored his first goal in 10 internationals against Ukraine on Friday, stepped up but it was a comfortable save for the Georgia keeper.
With almost the last kick of the game, Georgia appealed in vain for a penalty after Callum Marshall collided with Sazonov in the corner of the Northern Ireland box.
Northern Ireland’s upcoming Nations League Group B2 fixtures
- Saturday, November 14 – Ukraine (H), start time 19.45
- Tuesday, November 17 – Hungary (A), start time 19.45