Northern Ireland rue Isaac Price penalty miss as they draw with Georgia

In other Nations League action, France came from a goal down to beat Belgium 4-1 while Italy beat Turkey 3-1

Northern Ireland's Isaac Price missed an 84th minute penalty against Georgia. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire.

Isaac Price missed a late penalty as Northern Ireland were held to a goalless draw by Georgia which nevertheless keeps them top of their Nations League group.

Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili guessed right to keep out Price’s 84th-minute spot-kick after a combination of Nodar Lominadze and Saba Sazonov fouled Ruairi McConville as he sent a header against the crossbar during a goalmouth scramble.

Jamie Donley and Josh Magennis also brought saves out of Mamardashvili and Tom Atcheson felt he had should have had a first-half penalty, but Northern Ireland were held to a stalemate for the second time in a week at Windsor Park.

Georgia, still yet to score in this season’s Nations League, responded to their 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in Tbilisi 11 days ago by sacking Willy Sagnol, but Ramaz Svanadze is still awaiting his first win in charge despite Khvicha Kvaratskhelia showing flashes of his brilliance in the second half.

Northern Ireland started the night as the only side yet to concede in this season’s Nations League, and Pierce Charles made big saves from Zuriko Davitashvili and Giorgi Tsitaishvili to make it four competitive clean sheets in a row for the first time since 2017.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper’s seventh clean sheet in nine competitive appearances ensured Michael O’Neill’s side remain top of Group B2 by a single point from Hungary.

France came from a goal down to beat Belgium 4-1 in their Nations League ​Group A1 meeting at the Stade de ‌France on Monday, while Italy secured a 3-1 win over Turkey, their third consecutive match without a loss.

Zinedine ​Zidane secured his first home win in ​charge, three days after a 1-1 draw against ⁠Italy, thanks to his substitutes.

Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio ​put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute, ​but Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise, all on the bench at kickoff, turned the match on its head ​in the final 15 minutes.

Doue levelled with ​a left-footed shot from the edge of the box in ‌the ⁠77th minute. Four minutes later, Cherki put his side in front, finishing from an Olise cross. Olise then completed a brace from close range just ​before and ​during stoppage ⁠time.

In the same Nations League group, Italy secured a 3-1 victory over ​Turkey with Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and ​Pio ⁠Esposito scoring, while Aral Simsir had earlier equalised just after the hour mark.

France sit top with 10 ⁠points, ​three ahead of Italy and ​four clear of Belgium. Turkey are bottom with four defeats ​from four matches.