Georgia and Northern Ireland Held to Goalless Draws in Group B2

Georgia held Ukraine to a goalless draw in Tbilisi, and Northern Ireland were frustrated by a 0-0 stalemate with Hungary in Belfast, as both Group B2 fixtures on matchday two finished level.

In Tbilisi, Georgia had the better of the chances, outshooting Ukraine 13-7, with Giorgi Chakvetadze forcing a save from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and Saba Goglichidze heading over from the resulting corner. Trubin, named man of the match, also denied Khvicha Kvaratskhelia late on to preserve the point, which leaves Georgia on one from two matches and Ukraine unbeaten on four points after their opening win over Hungary.

At Windsor Park, Northern Ireland started the brighter side, with Patrick Kelly twice going close, once seeing a close-range effort loop onto the crossbar, while goalkeeper Balazs Toth also denied Jamie Donley's header early in the second half. Hungary improved as the game went on but could not find a breakthrough either, with Isaac Price denied late on. The result leaves Michael O'Neill's side on four points from two games, having beaten Georgia in their opener.