Northern Ireland 2-0 Belarus: Michael O'Neill determined to finish the job in Nations League quest

Michael O'Neill has challenged his players to 'finish the job' as they edged closer to promotion in the UEFA Nations League.

Northern Ireland just need to avoid defeat against Luxembourg on Monday night to finish top of League C3.

Friday night's 2-0 win over Belarus keeps O'Neill's side in pole position, but it took two second-half goals to break down the stubborn resistance of the visitors at Windsor Park.

READ NEXT: Josh Magennis Interview: 'People will say I have over-achieved, that's fine'

READ NEXT: Magennis recalls Dallas phone call as he reflects on 'fragile' football career

Dan Ballard nodded home the opener in the 50th minute, and Dion Charles added a second from the penalty spot after VAR confirmed a handball incident in the 63rd minute.

"We want to go and try and win the game," O'Neill said on Monday's concluding game at the Stade de Luxembourg.

"We have had four clean sheets in five games in this campaign and we have won three games at home and drawn away at a neutral venue which was tricky.

"We want to win on the road as well, that's why the Luxembourg game is important for us. We have to go and show we can win away from home as well.

"But at home we have scored nine and conceded none, so there are plenty of positives to take. And we just continue to work and improve and there is a great attitude.

"The boys are pleased where they are, but they recognise there are areas we need to be better in."

READ MORE: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus: LIVE score updates from Windsor Park

READ MORE: Josh Magennis Interview: 'People will say I have over-achieved, that's fine with me'

Northern Ireland were left frustrated following a goalless first half against Belarus. Dion Charles had the best effort of the half, forcing a good save from keeper Fedor Lapoukhov.

Shea Charles was the provider for Ballard's opener after the break, sending in a teasing corner which bounced across the face of goal before being nodded home by the Sunderland defender.

The second arrived shortly after when Shea Charles' free-kick struck the hand of Kirill Pechenin. Referee Luis Godinho initially didn't award the penalty, but after being called to the VAR screen he was soon pointing to the spot.

Bolton Wanderers striker Dion Charles stepped up to drill his penalty low and hard, down to Lapoukhov's right for his fourth international goal.

O'Neill said: "We knew how the game would go. We had worked on it all week.

"If you don't score early then the opposition will get confident. They sat deep and we needed to find a solution for that.

"It was difficult to get behind them as much as we wanted. We made our own problems at times with the choices we made on the ball.

"You're playing against 10 men behind the ball, and you are relying on some individual brilliance or some good combination play, and tonight our combination play was a little bit loose at times.

"We showed the boys at half-time where they needed to improve and they responded."

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox