Northern Ireland 1 - 0 Slovenia: Feeney header keeps Northern Ireland top

Published on Thursday 2 April 2009 00:57

DUNDEE United striker Warren Feeney scored his second goal in successive internationals to keep Northern Ireland firmly in contention for a World Cup berth in South Africa.

Feeney, on loan at Tannadice from Cardiff City, had opened the scoring against Poland last Saturday in a 3-2 win and grabbed last night's winner in the 73rd minute with a glancing header following good work from Sammy Clingan and Damien Johnson.

It means Northern Ireland remain top of Group 3 after a record-breaking fourth successive victory in qualifiers.

Manager Nigel Worthington, who won 66 caps for the province, could not hide his delight. He said: "It is nice to make history and I am delighted for the players. All the way through they have been fantastic.

"They've not always had the rub of the green. We had to make it happen tonight and we did.

"You have to work hard, that is key. The players had the bit between their teeth. They have taken all the information on board and put it into practice."

Feeney has picked up the baton from David Healy, who scored a record 13 goals in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Healy put in a hard shift but was out of luck as Belfast prepared for another long night of celebration.

Worthington said: "I am delighted and pleased for Warren. He has been playing wide right for his club and is the type who will do anything for a manager. But this could be a message that if you put him up front he could get you some goals. You have to give great credit to him and David as well. He worked as hard as anyone but it is not dropping for him at the moment."

Asked where he thought Northern Ireland would finish in the group, Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek said: "Behind Slovenia.

"They managed to win with their only effort on target. It was amazing. We had bad luck.

"But we can beat any team and are aiming to take 12 points from our last four matches."

In Prague, Slovakia kept up the pressure on the Northern Irish with a late 2-1 win over arch- rivals Czech Republic. Erik Jendrisek clinched all three points for the visitors at Sparta Stadium with a goal in the 83rd minute, after Stanislav Sestak's 23rd-minute opener had been cancelled out by Zdenek Grygera.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, McAuley, Hughes, Evans, McCartney, Johnson, Clingan, McCann, Davis, Healy, Feeney. Subs: Mannus, McGivern, Baird, McGinn, Shiels, Ward, Little.

Slovenia: Jasmin Handanovic, Mavric, Filekovic, Cesar, Jokic, Kirm, Komac, Koren, Brecko, Dedic, Novakovic. Subs: Seliga, Ilic, Suler, Mejac, Zlogar, Ljubijankic, Pecnik.

Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)