Isaac Price said “there isn’t any feeling like scoring in football” as he described his joyous goal celebration in Northern Ireland’s 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifier win over Denmark.
An “ecstatic” Price slid on the Windsor Park turf as he was surrounded by his team-mates after his 60th-minute goal.
“When it hit the back of the net I went straight to the corner flag,” Price told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
After a poor campaign, Price said the players had wanted to cheer the fans.
The goal seemed to be a complete release for players and fans alike after a tough period which had seen Michael O’Neill’s side lose seven of their previous nine qualifiers – with the only wins coming against San Marino.
For good, measure Dion Charles doubled Northern Ireland’s lead nine minutes from time after a pinpoint cross from substitute Conor McMenamin.
“Since I’ve been here, there have been a few games where we have not really pleased the crowd,” added 20-year-old Price, who moved from Everton to Belgian club Standard Liege during the summer.
‘Fans singing whole way through game’
“We know one of the main parts of our game is getting the crowd on our side because they are loud when we have them.
“It showed today. We went 1-0 up and they were singing the whole way through.
“It’s something for the fans as well because it will be frustrating for them when they are travelling away and watching us and we’re not getting the results that we should be getting. It just shows that we are capable of it.”
Northern Ireland’s seven qualifying defeats had included a 1-0 reverse in Denmark last June when they thought they had grabbed a draw only for VAR to rule out a late Callum Marshall effort.
“In the past games a few of them have gone against us and we’ve narrowly missed out by one goal and we feel like we could have got more from the games,” continued Price.
“Especially when we went to Denmark and gave them a tough game over there. We were unlucky to lose 1-0 and that has kind of summed up our campaign.”
‘Got rewards for tireless work’ – Charles
Striker Charles’ goal on 81 minutes sealed Northern Ireland’s victory and he said the team had “got our rewards after working tirelessly”.
The Bolton Wanderers striker, 28, had come within inches of putting O’Neill’s side ahead early on with a shot which came back off the woodwork and remained a threat for the rest of the contest – even during those periods when the visitors dominated.
“That first chance probably came a bit too soon in the game,” added Charles.
“I knew if I kept getting in the right positions then I’d get another opportunity. Luckily I was there at the end.
“We are a very young squad and inexperienced, but that gives us a lot of hope moving forward, into the next campaign.
“Now it’s up to us to give those standards every single day we are on the training pitch and out there at Windsor.
“It’s about breeding that winning mentality and hopefully this is just the start.”
