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Brown, the only player in Michael O'Neill's starting line-up over the age of 24, scrambled in early on before Isaac Price doubled the lead in the 22nd minute at the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho in Trnava, Slovakia.

Brown's second then came in bizarre fashion just after the hour - the 28-year-old Oxford defender went up to flick on Pierce Charles' free-kick from inside the Northern Ireland half and Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk let the bouncing ball through his legs.

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On paper this was the hardest game in the group, away to a side ranked 37 places above Northern Ireland, but they brushed Ukraine aside to move on to seven points from their opening three games since returning to their second tier, still yet to concede going into Monday's game with Georgia in Belfast.

This was the first competitive meeting with Ukraine since Northern Ireland's famous 2-0 win at Euro 2016, and they delivered a performance which will have fans believing a major tournament beckons for this new generation.

O'Neill made three changes from Monday's goalless draw against Hungary - one enforced with Ethan Galbraith one of two players, Callum Marshall the other, absent for personal reasons.

Justin Devenny and Patrick Kelly also dropped out as Brodie Spencer, Terry Devlin and teenager Kieran Morrison came in, with the 19-year-old Morrison, on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Liverpool, helping to bring the average age down to a flat 22, Northern Ireland's youngest post-war starting XI.

A positive start from Northern Ireland was quickly rewarded as Morrison floated a corner to the back post where Ruairi McConville headed it back for Brown, earning his 33rd cap, to prod home despite the desperate efforts of Illia Zabarnyi on the line.

Ukraine bossed the ball but struggled to break down Northern Ireland. Georgiy Sudakov was the first to get a sight of goal but his 19th-minute effort was straight at Charles.

Moments later Northern Ireland doubled their lead. As they countered, Morrison's first-time ball into the box was met powerfully by Price at the back post - giving Morrison an assist in his first competitive international.

Charles clawed away a powerful strike from Eduard Sarapii, but although Northern Ireland were needing to do a lot of defending, a Ukraine side sporting 10 changes for a second straight match created few clear chances.

Mykola Matviyenko threatened less than two minutes after the restart but that was a false dawn for the hosts, who found themselves three down thanks to Riznyk's horror moment in the 61st minute, with Brown's header trickling over the line.

Ukraine substitute Matvii Ponomarenko hit the outside of the post but a shellshocked Ukraine side rarely looked like getting back into it.

Late on Ceadach O'Neill came off the bench to make his fourth Northern Ireland appearance, ending any discussion of a possible switch to the Republic of Ireland for the Arsenal teenager. %!s()

Manchester United have been handed a significant injury boost with summer signing Carlos Baleba playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday - Daily Mail

Arsenal have revealed their redevelopment plans for their Emirates Stadium that won't see the team moving away, like rivals Tottenham did - The Sun

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MANCHESTER CITY

Thomas Tuchel says he is ready to carry on picking Manchester City players even if they are in the Championship - Mirror

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Thomas Tuchel revealed that England's Manchester City stars are worried for their immediate futures after this week's bombshell guilty verdict for breaching financial rules - Daily Mail

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Andriy Shevchenko's son Kristian has completed a shock move to non-league club Sholing after brief spells with Chelsea and Tottenham - The Sun

Gateshead have been plunged into crisis with players and staff going unpaid after director Mark Nellist's resignation - The Sun

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Celtic star Jota has returned to action after 18 months of injury hell - Scottish Sun

Derek McInnes has demanded Rangers back up their Old Firm wins when the Premiership restarts - Scottish Sun

Hearts are reportedly interested in former Ajax youth ace Precious Ugwu to bolster their defence - Scottish Sun

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Renee Slegers says she has felt the full support of Arsenal's board and praised her senior players for showing "monumental leadership" this week as she vows to find solutions to recent poor form before Sunday's pivotal trip to Manchester City - Guardian

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BOXING

Eddie Hearn believes Anthony Joshua is taking a big psychological advantage into his fight with Tyson Fury - The Sun

ATHLETICS

World and Olympic pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis has decided to skip the entire 2027 indoor season, including the European Indoor Championships in Valencia, to focus on recovery and preparation for the outdoor campaign - Independent %!s()

He arrives unbeaten in his past eight starts recording a staggering five Group 1 wins in the process and looks hard to oppose as he heads up in distance once again.

Stablemate Queenstown, the ride of Wayne Lordan, heads the likely dangers. He returned with an excellent victory in Group 3 company at the Curragh in August before chasing home Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger. Third in this race last year, he could hit the frame once more.

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George Scott's defending champion Caballo De Mar cannot be ruled out after bouncing back to form with a comfortable success in the Doncaster Cup, while Double Major is the pick of the bigger prices.

3.25 ParisLongchamp - Top fillies Sunly and Waardah lock horns

Classy pair Sunly and Wardaah headline a field of 11 for this Group 1 Prix de Royallieu.

Francis-Henri Graffard skipped the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in favour of this contest and his charge Sunly will be a short price to land a maiden top-level success under Christophe Soumillon. She could outclass her rivals if staying this extra yardage.

Wardaah took the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on her last start, beating Consent and Cameo in the process and looks ready for a crack at this better grade.

Consent saw off Santorini Star to land this race last season and, after finishing fourth at Goodwood and third at Doncaster, she seems to be progressing with each outing.

Ribblesdale winner Earth Shot is another who makes each-way appeal in a stellar field.

3.35 Ascot - Thunder Call and Mezcala headline 18 runners

A typically competitive edition of the BetMGM Challenge Cup where Thunder Call and Mezcala will be fancied in a field of 18.

The William Haggas-trained Thunder Call handled the step up to seven furlongs when easily disposing of a good field over this course and distance last month and should have more to give despite a tricky draw in stall one.

Jack Channon saddles Mezcala, who landed the Buckingham Palace Stakes over this trip and track at the Royal meeting and has been dropped 1lb for his latest sixth at Doncaster.

Several have place chances including course specialist Hickory, while George Boughey's Moonfall took the Britannia here, caught the eye at Doncaster last time, but must prove he can handle to dip to seven furlongs.

Also at ParisLongchamp...

Having faltered in the St Leger last time out, Pierre Bonnard will be looking to bonce back when he goes to post for the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at 12.23pm. The son of Camelot was only beaten two lengths by Arc hopeful Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur and looks the class act of the field. In opposition, Space Waltz represents the formidable Fabre team while Amy Murphy saddles the hat-trick-seeking Victoire Magique.

Wimbledon Hawkeye and Phineas clash in the subsequent Group 2 Prix Dollar, with the former horse arguably unlucky to have been denied in the Irish Champion Stakes last time. Phineas has won four on the spin and looks to be a real talent for the Fabre operation, while Distant Storm represents Charlie Appleby and Godolphin once more after success at Deauville last time.

Quddwah tops the runners assembled for the 4.35pm Prix Daniel Wildenstein, while Fallen Angel and 2025 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat line up to take him on.

Domestically...

The John and Thady Gosden-trained So Regal looks the pick of the runners declared for Ascot's 1.15pm BetMGM British EBF October Stakes, having ran with credit in Group 3 company when last seen. Of the others, three-time winner Secret History could be the chief threat, despite not running to her optimum level in a competitive York handicap in August.

Tuco Salamanca and Regional lock horns in the five-furlong BetMGM Rous Stakes (1.50pm) before crowd favourite Al Aasy faces five rivals in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25pm). A hardy individual, he showed real tenacity to defeat Chestnut Rocket - who lines up in Sunday's Arc - at Deauville when last seen.

It's Prince Of India versus Division in the 3pm John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes, with the latter favourite in the market after being narrowly beaten by Samangan in France recently.

Fontwell and Southwell open their gates for action over jumps and on the Flat, with 15 races scheduled between them.

Internationally...

The day begins with three Group 1 contests from Australia, with Sir Delius and Aeliana involved in Flemington's 7.25am Turnball Stakes after top clashes from Randwick earlier in the morning.

A Grade 2 runner-up earlier in the campaign, Francis-Henri Graffard's Mandanaba eyes a return to the winners' enclosure when she contests the 9.44pm First Lady Stakes. Classic Q is partnered with John Velazquez for this step up to Grade 1 company here, while stablemate And One More Time seeks a hat-trick for Mark Casse.

American History looked to have the makings of a real star when bolting up on debut by eight lengths. Todd Pletcher's charge returns to action in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity - a Grade 1 for two-year-olds.

Purview takes on Ancient Egypt in the Grade 1 Canadian International from Woodbine before attention switches back to the United States and Keeneland's Coolmore Turf Mile. Lake Forest flies the flag for the Haggas stable in here, with Cieren Fallon booked to ride. %!s()

The virus, which is transmitted via biting midges and originated in Africa, has spread to Europe over the past two decades, a development the World Organisation for Animal Health links to climate breakdown. The particular strain of bluetongue currently affecting livestock, serotype 3 (BTV-3), was first found in England in 2023.

Academics have said the transmission is inextricably linked to the temperature of the surrounding environment, with hotter temperatures, caused by the climate crisis, contributing to a rise in cases being recorded farther north.

Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety, but Robyn Munt, the vice-president of the National Farmers’ Union, said farmers were having to keep “constant vigilance” and continually check their livestock for symptoms.

So far in this year’s bluetongue season, which runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, Defra has recorded 2,201 cases, 1,103 in September.

Despite being just three months old, the 2026-27 season has already seen more cases than the past three seasons combined.

Defra defines a case as a premises where at least one animal with bluetongue is present, so the total number of animals affected is likely to be higher than the number of reported cases.

Farmers can vaccinate their livestock against the disease but Munt said it had been “really challenging” for them to get hold of the vaccines, as it was a “demand-led process”.

“During a year where livestock businesses, due to the climate impact of drought, have carried a whole load of cost in their business that they might not have been expecting, dealing with vaccinating animals and then potentially having to treat animals with bluetongue is just more labour pressure and stress on a farm business,” she said.

This summer the disease has crossed into Scotland for the first time and has been found as far north as Aberdeenshire.

With temperatures still consistently high enough in many parts of the UK for the virus to develop inside the midges, Tom Cantillon, a senior analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said this year’s record outbreak was a “harbinger of things to come”.

“With climate change increasing the likelihood of milder winters and hotter summers, pests and pathogens that were once unable to survive here can now make their home. This will profoundly impact not only farmers, but the wider public,” he said.

Earlier this summer mosquitoes capable of transmitting Zika virus and dengue were found breeding in homes in east London, with experts predicting that the rapidly warming climate could lead to greater “incursions of invasive mosquitoes”.

Cantillon said: “Adequate preparation for these pests and pathogens is necessary, including vaccinations for farm animals. But, ultimately, we cannot vaccinate against the kinds of climate that encourage these outbreaks. They will only get more likely until we reduce our emissions to net zero and stop warming altogether.” %!s()

Approved aid can enter Gaza only through Kerem Shalom, at the southern tip of the territory, while Rafah, also in the south, is open only for limited movement of people, including patients needing medical treatment abroad, the WHO said on Friday.

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“A truck full of non-priority supplies or the right supplies arriving too late, doesn’t save lives. That’s the question that actually matters,” Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, the WHO’s representative in Palestine, said.

Van De Weerdt called on Israeli authorities to “release the pressure on medical supplies”, saying essential medicines “should not be considered as dual use, as they are globally accepted standards on medical items anybody needs anywhere to run a hospital or a clinic”.

She added that one shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices had been rejected four times over the past six months.

“Every rejection means another delay for someone who has already lost a limb and is simply waiting for the chance to walk again,” she said, noting that medicines “by contrast, move relatively well”, with almost 87 percent approved and just over 1 percent rejected.

“Our ask is simple and has not changed: we need the unimpeded and predictable entry of humanitarian and health supplies into Gaza at scale. We also need a multi-crossing model so that aid isn’t forced to trickle down through a limited number of crossings,” Van De Weerdt said.

Four other main entry points into Gaza – Kissufim, Gate 96, Erez and Erez West – remain closed and under total Israeli control.

She praised the “extraordinary health workers” still risking their lives in Gaza, who she said were not receiving enough supplies to give patients the care they needed.

Winter and disease risk

“As winter begins, this urgency to get supplies into Gaza only deepens,” Van De Weerdt said. “Almost two million people are in need of shelter to protect against the cold and the risk of flooding, exposing people to serious health and safety risks, let alone their dignity.”

She said residents faced a heightened risk of preventable disease outbreaks linked to the lack of safe shelter and clean water, and a high number of rats whose bites transmit infection, a threat made harder to track by the destruction of public health laboratories.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Thursday of serious public health risks from the accumulation of solid waste in Gaza City, where sanitation gains remain fragile because of a lack of reliable access to heavy machinery, engine oil, spare parts and fuel funding.

Almost 12 months into a fragile “ceasefire” between Hamas and Israel, marked by continuing Israeli air attacks and other military activity, Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains “overwhelming”, according to OCHA. %!s()