Euro friendlies: Northern Ireland set unbeaten record; Wales lose

Northern Ireland set a record of 10 games unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Slovenia after a goal by Conor Washington in a friendly on Monday in the build-up to their first European Championship.

The victory at WindsorPark meant manager Michael O'Neill eclipsed the achievement of Billy Bingham, whose Northern Ireland side twice went nine games undefeated in the 1980s.

Man-of-the-match Washington struck after 41 minutes with his first international goal in his second appearance for the country to become the first Northern Ireland player to score on his home debut since George McCartney in 2001.

The Queens Park Rangers striker outmuscled Miral Samardzic and then barged Nejc Skubic out of the way before cutting inside Bostjan Cesar and firing a low shot past Jan Oblak.

Veteran keeper Roy Carroll, 38, preserved the home side's lead when he saved Milivoje Novakovic's penalty in the 66th minute after Jonny Evans had hauled Samardzic to the ground.

Asked about the unbeaten record, O'Neill said: "It's lovely to achieve something like that. It's for the squad -- to go unbeaten for 10 games is a great achievement."

The 23-year-old scorer Washington, who was at non-league St Ives Town only five years ago, qualifies for Northern Ireland through his grandmother but had never actually visited the country until he was called up for this month's friendlies.

"He's a raw striker. He's come on the international stage and showed what he can do. He made a goal out of nothing and it's a great night for him," added O'Neill.

"It would be unfair to say if he's on the flight to France. He's done himself no harm at all, not only in the performance, but how he's fitted in with the group. It looks like he's going to be an asset to us."

The Irish host Belarus and visit Slovakia in their last two friendlies before starting the Euro 2016 campaign against Poland and then facing Ukraine and world champions Germany.

Slovenia failed to qualify for the tournament in France after losing a qualifying playoff to Ukraine.

Ukraine beat Wales 1-0 thanks to Yarmolenko strike

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko scored with a half-volley from a clever set-piece to secure a 1-0 win over Wales as the teams continued preparing for Euro 2016 with a friendly on Monday.

Dynamo Kiev winger Yarmolenko, who has been linked with several English clubs, made the breakthrough in the 28th minute after latching on to Ruslan Rotan's chipped free-kick.

Mykhaylo Fomenko's side also beat Cyprus 1-0 with a set-piece goal four days ago when Wales, who were again without the rested Gareth Bale, were held 1-1 at home by Northern Ireland.

Ukraine, who qualified for the Euros through the playoffs, face world champions Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland in France, while Wales tackle England, Russia and Slovakia.

Wales coach Chris Coleman made six changes and used a 5-3-2 formation which looked solid until Ukraine struck with a goal Wayne Hennessy conceded at his near post after the unmarked Yarmolenko's close-range strike with their only shot on target.

Welshman Tom Lawrence forced home keeper Andriy Pyatov to tip the ball over the bar with a powerful angled shot in the first half and Joe Allen also threatened for Wales.

Denys Garmash almost made it 2-0 with a header wide of the far post from a set piece while efforts by Wales substitutes Jazz Richards and Joe Ledley were saved in added time.

"Even if we were at full strength, it would still be a tough game for us anyway. We have conceded from set pieces in two games and that is what disappoints me most," said Coleman, who was also without another influential midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

"It was a pretty good test for us before Russia and Slovakia (at the Euros)," he added.