MX23RW : Monday, December 16 02:17:46| >> :600:2027765:2027765:
[monks data]
Attendance: 18,188
Northern Ireland national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Mar 24, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Belarus national football team

2-1

Evans (30'), Magennis (87')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Stasevich (33')

Michael O'Neill praises "invaluable" Josh Magennis after late winner for Northern Ireland

Michael O'Neill praises
© Reuters
Northern Ireland were in danger of dropping two points in a game O'Neill had identified as must-win until Magennis struck three minutes from time.

Michael O'Neill hailed Josh Magennis after the Bolton forward's late goal lifted Northern Ireland to a 2-1 win over Belarus and top spot in Group C of the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Northern Ireland were in danger of dropping two points in a game O'Neill had identified as must-win until Magennis struck three minutes from time, capping a flowing move he helped spark himself.

It was sweet relief for Northern Ireland, who had seen Igor Stasevich hit a deflected equaliser within moments of Jonny Evans' 29th-minute opener.

With time running out, Craig Cathcart pumped a long ball forward for Magennis, who brought it under control and spread it out wide for Stuart Dallas. He in turn fed Paddy McNair, whose low cross was swept home by Magennis.

"It was a great piece of play," O'Neill said. "People maybe don't realise the quality that Josh has. He's improved immensely, certainly in the period I've been in charge.

"It is brilliant. He takes it down great, lays it off and then attacks that space."

Josh Magennis (left)
Josh Magennis' (left) goal was reward for Northern Ireland's relentless attacking endeavour in the closing stages (Brian Lawless/PA)

Magennis joined up with Northern Ireland from a difficult situation at club level, with Bolton still facing the threat of administration or liquidation over unpaid debts.

O'Neill said the 28-year-old had not let it affect him.

"I don't think so at all," he said. "I think he enjoys coming in. He's a very popular figure in the squad, valued in the squad as well. For me as a player he's invaluable.

"I think a lot of people didn't really know what Josh was or what he was going to become as a player but that's his fifth international goal so I think he's proving a lot of people wrong."

View this post on Instagram

What a feeling! 💚⚽️🔥#GAWA

A post shared by Northern Ireland (@northernireland) on

Though they left it late, Magennis' goal was reward for Northern Ireland's relentless attacking endeavour in the closing stages, which saw them dominate the game statistically with a total of 15 attempts at goal.

But after Magennis restored their lead, there was a late scare as Bailey Peacock-Farrell made a good save to deny Pavel Nekhaychik from point-blank range with virtually the last kick of the game.

"It was a great save from Bailey," O'Neill said. "He made one against Estonia and now one tonight.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell
Bailey Peacock-Farrell made a good save from point-blank range with virtually the last kick of the game (Lorraine O'Sullivan/PA)

"Bailey does brilliantly to keep it out. It would have been a travesty to have conceded then."

Following on from Thursday's 2-0 win over Estonia, Northern Ireland can enjoy the view from the top of Group C, three points clear of the Dutch who have won one and lost one, and Germany who beat Holland 3-2 in their only qualifier so far.

With the next games not until June – when they will play Estonia and Belarus away – the table will make enjoyable reading for the Green and White Army.

"The mood in the dressing room is brilliant," O'Neill said. "We're top until June! I know it sounds a bit ridiculous but it's a significant thing because we talk about momentum and that's how you get it. You get positivity.

"The games in June are difficult games but they're easier when you go in with momentum from the two performances and results."

O'Neill added that he did not expect Ollie Norwood, who missed this week's games for personal reasons, to return for the next two fixtures.

"I don't think Ollie will be available for June," he said.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ian Parker, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '9bf1fea0-b769-4ffa-a418-366c8c30872d');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Northern Ireland manager Michael O\u2019Neill hails match-winner Josh Magennis'});

ID:354323: cacheID:354323:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:17191:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Corry Evans scores for Northern Ireland on November 18, 2018
Read Next:
Northern Ireland midfielder Corry Evans doubtful for Estonia and Belarus clashes
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!