NORTHERN IRELAND
Michael McGovern: Good feet and great hands, claiming high balls confidently, punching clear when required. Parried away a fine shot from Yarmolenko. 7.5
Aaron Hughes: Neat and tidy as ever, using the ball well, and never let Konoplyanka past him although he got on the ball cutting inside. Good defensive header in added time. 7.5
Gareth McAuley: A classic ‘Big G’ performance: blocking shots, snuffing out danger, heading the ball clear, making a few fouls - and that goal, a magnificent header across the keeper. 8.5
Craig Cathcart: Settled very well and stuck tightly to centre-forward Seleznyov. Came close to scoring with a powerful header from a corner and was assured throughout. 8
Jonny Evans: Well involved from early on, always staying close to Yarmolenko, and made a fine tackle to prevent a corner. Also got forward effectively himself in a terrific all-round display at left-back. 8.5
Corry Evans: Caught in possession on one occasion but otherwise performed impressively, often as the most advanced central midfield player, challenging and closing down. 7
Oliver Norwood: The deepest midfielder of the central trio but still provided the crucial assist for the opening goal with a superb free kick and covered so much ground. 7.5
Steven Davis: The captain was much more in the game from the outset and linked play very well before troubling the keeper with a cross-shot. Deeper in second period but did so much good work. 8
Jamie Ward: Came into the game very well after the first half hour and created a few half-chances. His industry and enthusiasm led to a booking and he was subbed soon after. 7.5
Conor Washington: Held the ball up as an outlet and ran the left channel particularly well. Kept chasing down the Ukraine defenders too. 7.5
Stuart Dallas: Got a shot in target as early as the fourth minute, showed off a lovely trick, and it was his shot that led to the second goal. 7.5
SUBSTITUTES
Niall McGinn: Replaced Ward and made one early run but was mostly harrying opponents before he popped up to net the clinching second. 8
Josh Magennis: Came on for Washington, and chased down defenders before unexpectedly drifting past the left-back to lead to the second goal. 7
Paddy McNair: Not on long enough to be rated.
UKRAINE
Andriy Pyatov: Palmed away Davis’s cross-shot and raced off his line alertly to deal with a long McGovern goal kick but could do little about either goal. 6.5
Artem Fedetskiy: The Dnipro right-back was extremely advanced in the first half and nearly latched onto a cute Konoplyanka pass. Had a panicky low cross-shot blocked. 7
Yevhen Khacheridi: The stopper centre half had a physical battle with Washington but was out-jumped by McAuley for the opening goal. 6.5
Yaroslav Rakitskiy: On the ball plenty and showed that he has a good left foot but over-hit one attempt at a chipped pass. 6.5
Vyacheslav Shevchuk: Crunched into an early challenge. Dragged a right-foot shot wide of the near post. Out-foxed by Magennis for the second goal. 6.5
Serhiy Sydorchuk: Started well, nicking the ball off Corry Evans for a shot that was blocked. Fired a rising effort over. Gave way to Garmash. 7
Taras Stepanenko: Sent in a good left-foot cross and displayed eye-catching long passing to spread play, but could not break down the defence. 6.5
Andriy Yarmolenko: Over-hit his first cross - and others - but sent over a teasing left-footed effort from the right. Struck a good shot that McGovern pushed left. 7
Viktor Kovalenko: The young Shakhtar star struggled to get into the game, slicing one shot off-target and dragging another wide. 5.5
Yevhen Konoplyanka: The Sevilla player got on the ball plenty, especially after the break, but things never quite went right, including an injury time effort inches wide. Frustration showed. 7.5
Yevhen Seleznyov: Booked for a late challenge on Jonny Evans. Second half headers went close, one narrowly wide and another held by McGovern at second go. Subbed. 6
SUBSTITUTES
Roman Zozulya: Laid the ball off cleverly several times but could not conjure up a breakthrough. 6.5
Denys Garmash: Nice chest-down and some other good touches, but no major impact. 6
Olexandr Zinchenko: Replaced Kovalenko in the 83rd minute but for some reason flicked the ball back rather than shooting in added time. 5
