In Murcia, Conor Bradley led Northern Ireland to a 2-0 friendly victory over Andorra.

In the 16th and 23rd minutes, Bradley scored his first brace as a senior, but Michael O’Neill’s team was unable to extend that lead despite Callum Marshall and Jamal Lewis having good opportunities just before halftime.

Northern Ireland dominated possession as was to be expected, but after the half, O’Neill’s team did not score the additional goals he had planned to against a team who was rated 91 places lower than them.

However, following their 5-1 loss to Spain on Saturday, it appears that Northern Ireland will conclude their warm-weather training camp on a high note. As they prepare for the Nations League campaign later this year, they have won three of their past five games.

Corry Evans, Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown, Paul Smyth, and Marshall were O’Neill’s five additions to the team that lost in Mallorca; nonetheless, Bradley was kept in place and Daniel Ballard assumed leadership.

The first thing Bradley did was set up the opening opportunity, gathering up the debris after Andorra failed to clear a corner and whipping in a low cross that found Marshall at the back post. Marshall, a teenager making his debut for his country, saw his shot blocked.

The first objective was achieved by switching roles. Marshall ducked from his defender to create space down the left, where he fizzed in a low cross that Bradley met at the near post to push past goalkeeper Iker Alvarez while he was scuttling between Andorra’s centre backs.

The few Northern Ireland supporters who dared to speak up at an otherwise empty Estadio Nueva Condomina were rejoicing again seven minutes later. It was the sixth straight game in which Northern Ireland had started the scoring, a run they had not accomplished since 2017.

Bradley was able to correct his position and stoop to head in at the far post after Lewis’s cross took a deflection.

Bradley was in complete control, driving relentlessly at Andorra, who could only trip the Liverpool player as a response.

Half an hour before the half, Marshall ought to have scored his maiden goal for his country. Marshall was at the far post after Spencer’s excellent ball found Jamie Reid down the right. Reid’s early cross found Marshall, but the West Ham teen’s attempt to finish was off as it bobbled behind.

In stoppage time in the first half, Lewis nearly scored his first goal for his country with a right-footed shot that Alvarez did a good job of deflecting around the post.

Even though Northern Ireland had more possession of the ball in the second half, less clear-cut opportunities were made as the customary barrage of replacements started, including Aaron Donnelly’s debut and Ethan Galbraith’s first international game since November 2020.

After Ross McCausland was also introduced, Bradley was guilty of spotting his hat-trιck as he shot from an angle with teammates in a better position.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Bradley was replaced by Caolan Boyd-Munce. McCausland then led Northern Ireland forward once more, but he hesitated when attempting to thread a challenging ball through to fellow substitute Dale Taylor. As a result, Northern Ireland had to settle for a point.