ANKARA 

In a historic first, Northern Ireland claimed their first-ever victory in the European championship finals by beating Ukraine 2-0 in a Euro 2016 Group C match at Stade de Lyon on Thursday.

Northern Ireland took the lead when their defender Gareth McAuley's header found the net in the 49th minute, 1-0. Substitute Niall McGinn, playing as winger, clinched the victory for Northern Ireland in injury time, 2-0.

Match referee Pavel Kralovec had to stop the game for a short while in the second half due to hail.

The loss, Ukraine's second in the group stage, dims the eastern European nation's chances in Euro 2016.

The other Group C match Thursday will be between Germany and Poland at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.