Healy strike puts England World Cup dreams in jeopardy

Northern Ireland striker David Healy has put England's hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup in jeopardy when his goal secured a famous 1-0 victory for Lawrie Sanchez' side at Windsor Park last night.

The Killyleagh-born goal scorer struck a sweet right foot shot past goalkeeper Paul Robinson on 73 minutes which gave the home side their first victory against England since 1972.

Northern Ireland where expected to get beaten by a similar scoreline from the last time these two sides met when they were defeated 4-0 at Old Trafford earlier this year.

However, from the off, Sanchez's men were a different team, harassing the visitors from the first minute and showing little respect for a team over 100 places higher in the FIFA world rankings.

Although England had Northern Ireland on the back foot for most of the first half the boys in green never looked like conceding a goal, and in fact Sven Goran Eriksson's side could muster on two clear cut chances in the opening 45 minutes.

David Beckham was the one who came closest with a free kick on 27 minutes however the upright saved the day for the home side. A short time later Michael Owen had his acrobatic free kick saved comfortably by Maik Taylor in goal.

Roared on by a bumper 14,000 strong crowd, Northern Ireland came into the game a lot more in the second half and created one or two chances of their own however in the 73rd minute Healy hit the winner. Aston Villa's Steve Davis threaded through a delicately timed pass, and with the Leeds striker beating the offside trap, he thundered home a right foot shot that Robinson got a hand to but could not deflect.

The inevitable backlash that the home support was awaiting never materialised except for a 25 yard shot from Frank Lampard that Taylor spectacularly tipped round the post.

However, it was the home side that finished the stronger with substitute Warren Feeney firing an angled drive just inches wide of the post minutes into injury time.

The final whistle eventually came and the Northern Ireland players and fans were left to embraced what is one of the greatest qualifying upsets in world footballing history.

(MB/SP)