WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GROUP C TICKET

Will book play-off spot

arrowed a point blank effort wide of the post.

It began to look like one of those nights a minute before the break when Magennis’ header from a Chris Brunt corner crashed off the post, Jonny Evans’ follow-up effort slicing wide.

It was scoreless at the break and the near miss trend continued in the second period when Davis and Magennis both flashed near post headers wide from inviting crosses.

Evans had the ball in the net from another curling Brunt corner on 65 minutes but the referee had already blown for a foul on Simoncini.

Davis was then gifted a sight of goal from a well worked Brunt free kick soon after but the Southampton midfielder’s angled shot was smothered by the keeper.

Mercifully, the breakthrough finally came when Magennis slotted home his second international goal from Davis’ pass after the striker’s initial header had been parried.

What a crucial time to score the 50th goal of O’neill’s six-year reign.

Brunt forced a parried save from Simoncini soon after before Magennis put the result beyond doubt with his second of the night, heading home from close range from Washington’s square cross.

It was 3-0 on 78 minutes when Davis sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot after Albanian referee Jorgji awarded a harsh penalty for an apparent handball.

A tense night of near misses and jangling nerves would end in a procession. Next up? The little matter of facing the Czechs in Belfast on Monday night.

For boss O’neill (right) there was always belief that the goals would come. He said: “It was a good performance. We didn’t get enough out of the front two in the first half but we addressed that at half-time. We had numerous opportunities that we didn’t take but there was a patience about the players and a belief that we would get the win and I was delighted when Josh got the breakthrough.

“We really couldn’t have asked any more from the players. When we came into this campaign after the Euro 2016 finals we didn’t want standards to drop and it is testament to the players and their motivation that we are in this position.

“If we can take care of Monday night and reach the play-offs and win that our World Cup would start in November.

“The players certainly deserve to make it to a World

Cup.”

BISH, BASH, JOSH Magennis pokes home Northern Ireland’s first goal in Serraville last might STROKED HOME Steven Davis adds the gloss with his late penalty champions Germany. Magennis said: “It was great to get the victory over San Marino and now we are...