Magennis is late saviour

JOSH MAGENNIS snatched the late winner that put Northern Ireland top of Group C. It looked like being a night of frustration for Michael O’Neill’s side until substitute Magennis stabbed home from close range when he met Paddy McNair’s low cross in the 87th minute. Victories in two key home games against Estonia and Belarus have given Northern Ireland a fighting chance of challenging the two European heavyweights in their group — Germany and Holland — for automatic qualification. The opening goal arrived on the half hour after Andrey Klimovich had palmed away Kyle Lafferty’s 25-yard effort for a corner. Niall McGinn crossed to the near post for Steven Davis to flick on and Jonny Evans headed home. Belarus hit back three minutes later when former Arsenal midfielder Alexandr Hleb fed Ihar Stasevich and his hopeful 20-yard shot took a deflection off Stuart Dallas to loop over stranded Leeds keeper Bailey PeacockFarrell. Magennis’s goal brought relief but it still needed an injurytime save by Peacock-Farrell from Pavel Nekhaychik to seal the win.