IT’SDALLASTO RESCUE WITH LATE WINNER

STUART DALLAS’ stoppage-time strike earned Northern Ireland a smash-and-grab win over Azerbaijan that keeps them firmly on the road to Russia.

Missing eight players from the squad they took to France, and without Gareth McAuley due to a first-half injury, Michael O’Neill’s side struggled and were thankful for the profligacy of Afran Ismayilov.

And they secured an unlikely victory when Dallas hit a late winner, his first in a competitive international, having been teed-up by the cool-headed Jonny Evans in the box.

Northern Irish boss O’Neill said: ‘It was a fantastic way to finish the game. We were out on our feet and looking to get away with a 0-0 draw. I am really delighted for Stuart.’