Last-gasp goal lifts NI fans’ spirits on a night when world champs were just too good for our boys
World Cup dream still alive despite 3-1 loss as Norway game beckons
Hopefully the team can take momentum from the campaign into last game and get a positive result
IT is down to the wire for Northern Ireland’s World Cup dreams.
The road to Russia hit a bump as Germany crashed the party, winning 3-1 in Belfast on a night of disappointment for the Green and White Army.
Michael O’Neill’s side now probably need something from the final qualifier in Norway on Sunday to secure a play-off place.
The 18,000-plus fans packed inside the national stadium had the place rocking.
And while they couldn’t quite inspire an unlikely win against the world champions, the postmatch mood was still one of optimism.
“We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland,” they sang at the final whistle.
And it’s true, Northern Ireland are better than that. The last time Germany played Brazil, they put seven past them. Here, it was just the three. It had looked bleak when Northern Ireland went a goal down inside 80 seconds.
They trailed 2-0 at half-time, but rallied in the second half.
The 3-1 defeat failed to shake supporters’ hopes of making the finals next summer.
Rob Gamble from Bangor said: “I’m still confident — for sure — and I thought the fans tonight were incredible. The support was brilliant.
“It was great to be here.” Roger Irvine, also from Bangor, said: “Hopefully the team can take the momentum from the campaign into the last game and get a positive result.
“I’m not going to Oslo on Sunday but I’ll be watching from home.”
A visit from the world champions is always an occasion to quicken the pulses.
The last trophy holders to come to town had been France in 1999.
Only 11,800 turned up that night, with rows of empty seats — not so this time.
But then, these are very different times.
Such was the clamour for tickets they could have sold double last night’s attendance of 18,104 — and much more.
From early evening fans clad in green and white were snaking their way through the narrow terraced streets to the stadium.
The carnival atmosphere was enhanced by the sizeable travelling support.
A special affinity exists between the countries, the bonds of friendship forged in France when the sides met at the Euros.
The Green and White Army had drawn praise from Germany’s Mats Hummels in the buildup.
And they produced another rousing atmosphere as kick-off neared.
In the stands a drummer beat down the final minutes to kickoff, followed by a stirring rendition of Sweet Caroline, the GAWA’s call to arms.
By kick-off the ground was rocking. Already this was shaping up to be one of those special nights.
But within 80 seconds the Germans had spoiled the party.
A stunning strike from Sebastian Rudy, the Bayern Munich midfielder, briefly silenced the wall of noise.
Talk about a ‘Rudy’ awakening for Northern Ireland.
But soon the fans found their voices again as O’Neill’s men set about the task of getting back into the game.
The German pressure continued. Michael McGovern — the hero of Paris when last these sides met — made a terrific save, another header hit the post.
With 21 minutes gone Sandro Wagner doubled the visitors’ lead. “We’re going to win 3-2,” the home fans responded, somewhat optimistically.
Northern Ireland battled hard in the second half.
Joshua Kimmich added a third, and while Josh Magennis nearly brought the house down with a stoppage time consolation, it was that rarest of nights for the home fans — a defeat.
Yet all is far from lost, with Sunday’s Oslo summit offering a chance of redemption.
The stadium music choice ranged from Bob Marley’s classic Don’t Worry to the Journey hit Don’t Stop Believin’.
It seemed a timely reminder for everyone.