Josh makes it worth the wait

NORTHERN Ireland were left frustrated in San Marino for long periods before class finally told and Josh Magennis delivered.

Magennis, below, had hit a post, Conor Washington fired a brilliant chance wide and home keeper Aldo Simoncini made two smart stops as a team that had conceded 30 times in their six qualifiers going in held firm for well over an hour.

It seemed the Northern Irish would find no way past stubborn Simoncini to strengthen their hold on second place in their group.

But finally in the 70th minute Magennis tapped home, and five minutes later he struck again with a header, again from close range.

Captain Steven Davis then stepped up to score from the spot.

Coach Michael O’Neill had instructed his players to approach this fixture as if they were facing world

SAN MARINO N IRELAND

champions Germany rather than the 204th-ranked nation in world football – one yet to win a competitive game in their history.

They could not pretend they were playing on a pristine pitch, though, as Chris Brunt lost his footing inside 30 seconds on a cut-up surface that had received a downpour before kick-off.

The hosts set their stall out early with everyone deep behind the ball and the Northern Irish’s best chances came from setpieces.

Davis flashed a volley past a post after Brunt’s corner came out to him on the edge of the area and the West Brom man delivered a free-kick that was nodded just wide by Oliver Norwood.

O’Neill’s side kept huffing and puffing and finally it was worth the wait for the manager.