Northern Ireland got off to a stunning start in their Euro 2012
qualifying campaign by defeating World Cup finalists Slovenia 1-0 in
Maribor.
- Slovenia 0-1 Northern Ireland: As it happened
Manchester United midfielder Corry Evans was the unlikely matchwinner, stepping off the bench to score in the 70th minute.
He
marked his first competitive outing by getting on the end of a glorious
cross from Craig Cathcart on his debut to sweep the ball home at the
far post.
Slovenia were finding it hard to get going and Valter
Birsa delivered the ball from the right in the 15th minute but it
failed to trouble goalkeeper Maik Taylor and went wide.
Slovenia
then almost made the breakthrough in the 21st minute when Birsa got on
the end of a cross from Zlatan Ljubijankic, only for Cathcart to make a
timely clearance.
Northern Ireland found themselves on the back
foot in the 38th minute with Andraz Kirm whipping in a cross. Milivoje
Novakovic peeled away from his marker but delivered a soft header from
six yards into the arms of Taylor.
Birsa got enough power on his
shot from inside the area but Cathcart was handily placed and deflected
the ball to safety in the 49th minute. Back came Northern Ireland and
David Healy stung the palms of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Northern
Ireland were defending in numbers and Stephen Craigan then put his body
on the line in the 64th minute to keep out a shot from Robert Koren.
Three
minutes later Nigel Worthington made a double substitution with Kyle
Lafferty and Evans coming on Healy and Grant McCann. The visitors then
stunned Slovenia in the 70th minute with Evans, brother of Jonny,
scoring at the far post - with virtually his first touch - following a
glorious cross from Cathcart.
Birsa was thwarted by Taylor and
then Ljubijankic found the sidenetting from an acute angle in the 81st
minute as Slovenia tried in vain to muster and equaliser.
Source: DSG