Luxembourg 2-2 N Ireland: Michael O'Neill says lessons will be learned ahead of World Cup qualifiers

It was a case of job done for Michael O'Neill as Northern Ireland overcame a late wobble to earn promotion in the UEFA Nations League

O'Neill's side threw away a two-goal lead in the second half against Luxembourg, with the hosts scoring twice in the space of three minutes to leave the League C3 finale on a knife edge.

Northern Ireland knew they just had to avoid defeat to book their place in League B next season, but they will rue missing out on the chance to record a rare away win in the competition.

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O'Neill told the BBC: "I was really pleased with the performance. Take the scoreline out of the situation, I thought some of our play was terrific.

"Look, at 2-0 and you are comfortable and think you are going to see the game out. We had chances to add to it but we didn't.

"There is a little lesson in there. The opposition score off a set piece and then it breathes a bit of life into them.

"The second goal for them is a great strike and suddenly the game is 2-2 when it never looked like it was going to go that way. The scoreline probably wasn't a fair reflection on the game, but the opposition deserve credit."

Isaac Price gave Northern Ireland the lead after 19 minutes, and Conor Bradley doubled the advantage five minutes after the break.

It was comfortable viewing until Seid Korac bundled home Luxembourg's first goal in the 72nd minute, and three minutes later Gerson Rodrigues volleyed home a superb equaliser to send the Stade de Luxembourg into raptures.

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But despite the hosts getting their tails up, Northern Ireland's young guns weathered any potential storm to see out the remaining minutes, and were unfortunate not to grab a late winner.

O'Neill added: "I mean 2-0 is always that type of lead in football, you always feel you might need that extra goal. Conor [Bradley] will be kicking himself that he didn't score and get a third one. Ultimately at 2-1 it breathes life into their performance.

"When you take the score line out of the game and we look at the performance and the nature of how we played, the level of our possession, the quality of our play, the speed of our play, there's a lot of things for us to be positive about."

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Next on O'Neill's radar will be next month's World Cup qualifying draw, which is due to be held on December 13.

The Northern Ireland boss admits that incoming campaign will present a sterner test.

He said: "The World Cup will present a different challenge and we will have to play teams of a higher calibre. We will take a lot of confidence from the Nations League, we have achieved what we set out to do, to get promoted.

"We know the World Cup will provide us with a stiffer challenge but I think the team are ready for that."

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