BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland (Interstat) — Greece U21 scored in the first half and protected the lead Tuesday, defeating Northern Ireland U21 1-0 in a match decided by Anestis Mythou’s 32nd-minute goal. The visitors struck after a tense opening in which Northern Ireland U21 had already received two yellow cards. Greece U21’s Noah Allen provided the assist on the goal. Mythou’s finish stood as the only goal, and Greece U21 finished with one win and no losses in the competition and overall. Northern Ireland U21 finished with no wins and one loss in the competition and overall.

The goal arrived in the 32nd minute when Mythou converted for Greece U21. Allen was credited with the assist after playing 84 minutes. Mythou played 74 minutes, scored once and was shown a yellow card. The goal gave Greece U21 the lead after Northern Ireland U21 had been warned twice by bookings. D. Robinson was yellow-carded in the 12th minute, and J. Russell followed in the 31st minute. Mythou’s goal came one minute after Russell’s booking, and Mythou was then booked in the 39th minute.

Before the breakthrough, Northern Ireland U21 had tried to set the tone at home, but the match became increasingly physical. Robinson’s early booking in the 12th minute was followed by Russell’s in the 31st. Greece U21 absorbed that pressure and then found the decisive moment through Mythou. The goal changed the shape of the game, forcing Northern Ireland U21 to chase the scoreline while Greece U21 looked to protect its narrow advantage. Northern Ireland U21 could not respond before halftime, and Greece U21 carried the lead into the break.

Greece U21’s disciplinary record grew after the goal. C. Alexiou was booked in the 44th minute, C. Almyras in the 48th, K. Goumas in the 54th and A. Kalogeropoulos in the 72nd. Northern Ireland U21’s two first-half bookings were its only yellow cards. The visitors managed the game after taking the lead, though they continued to pick up cards as Northern Ireland U21 searched for an equalizer. Greece U21 made substitutions at the 46th minute involving T. Bakoulas and A. Papakanellos. Goumas was substituted in the 57th minute.

Northern Ireland U21’s C. Brannigan was substituted in the 60th minute. Greece U21 then removed Mythou in the 74th minute, ending his scoring day. Allen was substituted in the 84th minute. Northern Ireland U21 also made substitutions in the 84th minute involving J. Simpson and B. Graham. S. Kearney was substituted for Northern Ireland U21 in the 90+3rd minute. The late changes could not produce an equalizer for the home side, and Greece U21 held on for the shutout win.

Greece U21’s goal came when Allen’s assist set up Mythou. Northern Ireland U21 pressed after the break but could not find an equalizer. Greece U21’s defense protected the one-goal advantage through the final whistle despite the string of bookings. Northern Ireland U21 pushed numbers forward late, but the equalizer never arrived.

The win moved Greece U21 to a 1-0 record in the competition and a 1-0 record across all competitions. Northern Ireland U21 fell to 0-1 in the competition and 0-1 across all competitions. For Greece U21, the result marked a successful start in the competition and overall. For Northern Ireland U21, the home defeat left the side still seeking its first win and first positive result of the campaign. Greece U21 also kept a clean sheet, while Northern Ireland U21 was shut out at home.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Northern Ireland U21 1, Greece U21 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Northern Ireland U21 with a 65.3 percent probability to win.