Michael O'Neill was delighted with his young Northern Ireland side after they stunned Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia to move clear at the top of Nations League Group B2.
Ciaron Brown scored his first two international goals either side of Isaac Price's first-half header as Northern Ireland delivered a complete performance which can be another key marker in the development of this team.
Besides the 28-year-old Brown every player who started was 24 or younger, with this Northern Ireland's youngest post-war starting eleven with an average age of just 22.
But they showed no fear playing away to a side ranked 37 places ahead of them in the world as they made it back-to-back away wins in this group, still yet to concede after their opening three matches.
Brown prodded in his first nine minutes in and, after Price headed in a cross from teenager Kieran Morrison, got his second in bizarre fashion just after the hour as Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk let an intended flick on through his legs.
"It's a great result for us, a great performance," O'Neill said. "The early goal helps settle us into the game.
"The second goal was a brilliant goal. We worked it the length of the pitch. We were patient. We could have crossed it early but that allowed us to get more men in the box and it's a brilliant header from Isaac.
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"The third goal is fortuitous but it's a mistake by the opposition so we have to capitalise on that, but I thought throughout our performance was brilliant. We limited the opposition to crosses and shots from outside the box and I thought we defended brilliantly."
O'Neill was praising Brown only a few days ago after his role in nullifying Hungary in Monday's 0-0 draw in Belfast, but perhaps would not have had the Oxford defender down for a brace.
"Ciaron brings a lot, he's a great competitor," O'Neill said. "He's learned a lot, he's very good positionally and he gives us a good balance on that left-hand side.
"He's got a great long throw and he's good in both boxes, very brave, and it's great to see him do that.
"For me, he's above the level that he's playing his club football at. I think we had maybe five or six players that are playing in League One tonight and they showed that they're better than that level."
Price's goal was his 11th for Northern Ireland but his first since last September's strike in the 3-1 defeat to Germany, which brought to an end a run of eight goals in nine internationals.
"He's a midfield player first of all, so he's scored 11 goals in just over 30 internationals and I think that's a pretty good record for a nation like us," O'Neill said.
"He will have periods where he's not going to score every two to three games and we have to recognise he's not a front player, but where Isaac is brilliant for us is what he gives us out of possession as much as in possession.
"But what he also has is the real opportunity to take a chance when it comes."