Irish late show is a winner
Supersub Gavin Whyte scored then set up a winner as Northern Ireland left it late to claim their first ever Nations League victory.
The away side looked to be cruising going into the last 10 minutes thanks to a goal from Mal lorca striker Vedat Muriqi just before the hour.
But Ian Baraclough’s side levelled in the 82nd minute when Shayne Lavery squared the ball for fellow sub Whyte to fire home from close range.
And the Irish won it in stoppage time as Cardiff midfielder Whyte crossed from the right for Josh Magennis to head home.
The best first-half chance for the home side came shortly before the break but Dion Charles – making his first start as he won a 12th cap – shot too close to keeper Ari Muric.
Charles had the ball in the net in the 55th minute but the Bolton striker was denied a first international goal as he was offside.
And it got much worse for Northern Ireland three minutes later as Kosovo’s record goalscorer Muriqi found the bottom corner with a crisp shot from the edge of the area.
Muriqi blocked a header from Jonny Evans, winning his 99th cap, on the line, then Muric saved a looping effort from former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock striker Magennis.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell then made a vital save to deny Muriqi what would have been the killer blow and moments later Northern Ireland were level as Lavery set up Whyte to fire home.
Peacock-Farrell made another save to deny Zymer Bytyqi then Muriqi scooped one over with the goal at his mercy before Magennis capitalised at the death to win it.
Magennis said: “That was the stuff a striker dreams of. We were under a lot of pressure and didn’t play our best football in the first half. We improved in the second half and got the win.”