Northern Ireland 2-1 Belarus: Late Josh Magennis strike sees Michael O’Neill’s men go top of Euro 2020 qualifying group

Northern Ireland 2-1 Belarus: Late Josh Magennis strike sees Michael O’Neill’s men go top of Euro 2020 qualifying group
Josh Magennis’ late goal ensured Northern Ireland continued their 100 per cent start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Belarus at Windsor Park.Jonny Evans nodded Michael O’Neill’s men in front after half an hour but Ihar Stasevich’s deflected effort pegged them back.4

Northern Ireland are top of Group C – a group that contains Germany and the Netherlands

It looked like it was going to be a frustrating night for the Green and White Army but substitute Magennis fired home on 87 minutes to secure the three points.Northern Ireland, who beat Estonia 2-0 in the first group match, are top of Group C after Germany claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam.Belarus arrived in Belfast on the back of a 4-0 thrashing by the Dutch on Thursday, and Northern Ireland were hoping for easy pickings.But after coach Igor Kruishenko made five changes, including the restoration of 37-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Aleksandr Hleb to midfield, they would prove stubborn opposition to break down. After a slow and often scrappy start, Paddy McNair produced Northern Ireland’s first chance after 20 minutes, turning his man and cutting inside before hitting a rising shot which Andrei Klimovich clawed to safety.Just before the half-hour, Kyle Lafferty hit an optimistic raking shot from distance but after it bounced awkwardly for Klimovich, Northern Ireland would make the resulting corner pay.They took it short, with Niall McGinn’s corner flicked on by Steven Davis for an unmarked Evans to head home.But the celebrations lasted less than three minutes before Belarus hit back. As the Northern Ireland defenders stood off, Stasevich hit a shot from the edge of the area which deflected off Stuart Dallas to loop up and over Bailey Peacock-Farrell.4

Belarus stifled Northern Ireland well after getting the equaliser

Northern Ireland sought a response, but though Dallas’ long throw fell for George Saville inside the goal area, the angle was tight and the Middlesbrough man shot straight at Klimovich.Jordan Jones, having done well to keep in an over-hit pass, then played a dangerous ball in but Lafferty stood flat-footed as it whistled across the face of goal, keeping it all square at the break.Lafferty’s blushes were spared by the assistant’s flag four minutes into the second half, when he really should have nudged home McNair’s cross from point-blank range.McNair was next to try his luck when the ball rolled out invitingly for him in the 58th minute, but Mikhail Sivakov stood strong to repel the shot.4

The game looked all set for a draw as Northern Ireland huffed and puffed on Belarus

Northern Ireland continued to build pressure, forcing Belarus further and further back.Lafferty tried a looping shot with his back to goal but could not keep it down before Dallas surged into the box but saw his low cross – looking for Lafferty – cut out for a corner.Lafferty spurned another chance in the 77th minute as Lewis’ cross seemed to skim off the top of his head with the goal gaping, with the Rangers striker guilty of not attacking the ball.It would prove his last involvement as he was swiftly replaced by Liam Boyce.O’Neill also threw on Shane Ferguson with five minutes to go, with Northern Ireland continuing to pour forward.They got their reward three minutes from time with one of the best moves of the game.4

Magennis got the winning goal three minutes before the end of the 90

Magennis started it by bringing down a long ball and spreading it wide for Dallas, who in turn fed McNair. His low cross was perfectly placed for Magennis to turn it home with a simple finish.Belarus responded with a late burst of pressure, requiring Peacock-Farrell to make a close-range save from Pavel Nekhaychik, but Northern Ireland hung on for victory to the delight of Windsor Park.

---

Manchester City rounded off a highly impressive season by being crowned Premier League champions again, following a 4-1 win at Brighton.. The blues knew only a victory would guarantee the trophy remained in Manchester, but were given a fright when Brighton took the lead after 27 minutes.
Man City crowned Premier League champions 2018/19 on tense

---

The Premier League is merely the top division in a vast and extensive English league system, known informally as "the pyramid." Prior to the formation of the Premier League (which was created as a breakaway entity in 1992), the English Football League consisted of four divisions comprising 92 clubs.
Football Statistics | Soccer Statistics

---

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton live streaming: Watch online, preview & prediction & odds of the Premier League match on Sunday, May 12, 2019.
Fulham vs Everton live streaming: Confirmed Line-Ups & Live Score

---

Sports The top 10 most expensive football transfers. Clubs have dug deep into their pockets in this year's summer transfer window, with several players changing clubs for big price tags.
10 Most Expensive Transfers In Soccer History - Fadeaway World

---

Keep up to date with the latest Tottenham Hotspur news, features and exclusives from football.london via our free WhatsApp service. Text NEWS to 07776197989 and then add the number to your phone contacts book as spurs dot london (case sensitive, with spaces) to receive daily updates and breaking news from Alasdair Gold and the team on Spurs.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Jose Mourinho believes Spurs could go

---

An image of the rumoured new Manchester United goalkeeper kit for the 2019/20 season has appeared online and the vibrant colour and pattern of the design is sure to divide fans. Images of United's
Football kits 2019/20: What Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea

---

Jermain Defoe set to undergo medical ahead of joining Rangers on long term loan deal BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Jermain Defoe is set to join Rangers on an 18-month loan after a deal was agreed with
Jermain Defoe 'completes' Rangers medical and will join up

---

Eden Hazard has revealed that talk of a move to Real Madrid from Chelsea emerged after the 2018 World Cup in Russia when he met Real Madrid president Florentino Perez at an event in London.
Thank you, Eden - Hazard will face no animosity from Chelsea fans

---

Obituaries for the last 7 days on Your Life Moments. 2019 "Love is the most durable power in the world." Martin Luther King Jr. Murray John William
Obituaries - , - Your Life Moments

---

Andre Gray's late strike sent Watford through to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. The game looked to be heading to extra time after Michy Batshuayi cancelled out Etienne
Watford vs Crystal Palace: Hornets' players individual

---

talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham has labelled Celtic captain Scott Brown 'embarrassing' for the way he celebrated his late winner against Kilmarnock on Sunday. The Scotland international was guilty of producing a rather enthusiastic response to his scrappy goal at Rugby Park, and Durham has
Ex-Celtic star Simon Donnelly mocks Adrian Durham over Scott

---

Paul Pogba: Manchester United midfielder would be one of the

---

Chelsea loanee Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off for AC Milan (Adam Davy/PA) Tiemoue Bakayoko sees red as AC Milan are held by Bologna How a delighted Meghan Markle responded to the news
Tiemoue Bakayoko - talkSPORT

---

Tottenham and Liverpool will contest the first all-English Champions League Final for the first time since 2008 on Saturday night. Spurs have reached the final of the European Cup for the first
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool: Champions League final live blog

---