Northern Ireland

1-0

England

Healy 74


World Cup Group 6 Qualifier
7.45pm, Wednesday 7 September 2005
Windsor Park, Belfast
Live on BBC1


90+5

The referee blows the final whistle and Northern Ireland have beaten England for the first time since 1972.

90+4 

Nice interchange by Northern Ireland, but Warren Feeney fires just wide.

90+3

Wayne Rooney hits a great strike from distance but it goes just over as England run out of time.

90+3

Luke Young throws the ball into the Irish box but it's headed clear.

90+2 Elliott is replaced by Duff.

90+1

Four minutes of injury time are announced.

90 

Luke Young loses the ball. It's pumped forward by the Irish but Ashley Cole clears up well at the back.

89 

England throw the ball into the box and it's flicked on, but Michael Owen can't connect and Taylor drops down onto it.

88' Sproule comes on for David Healy.

87

Ashley Cole is caught out from Davis' ball forward and his chip goes just over.

86 

Gillespie clips it forward but Healy is offside.

85

Defoe does well and knocks it into the box, but Hargreaves can't control and the chance goes begging.

84 

Healy again looks dangerous on the edge of the England box, but he runs it out.

83

But Elliott drives the free-kick into the wall.

82

Owen Hargreaves is caught in possession and Northern Ireland have a free-kick on the edge of England's box...

81

Rooney crosses the ball into the box and England have a corner. The ball drops to Jamie Carragher but his shot is skewed wide.

81' Owen Hargreaves comes on as Lampard departs.

80

Northern Ireland have the bit between their teeth and win a corner. It's whipped in but is headed behind for a goal kick.

 

79' Feeney enters for Northern Ireland as Quinn departs.

78' Chris Baird booked

76' Gerrard departs and Jermain Defoe comes on.

74 

GOAL! The ball is chipped over England's back four to David Healy on the Northern Ireland right. He collects in the box and powers home to send Windsor Park into a frenzy.
Northern Ireland 1-0 England

73 

Luke Young forces a corner, but Maik Taylor gathers Beckham's ball in.

71

Healy gets free down the Northern Ireland right and his ball across is dangerous. Robinson bravely rushes out to gather though and takes a knock to the head for his trouble.

70

Owen does well down England's right but is hauled down. Beckham takes it early towards Rooney, but the ball ends up nestling in Taylor's arms.

69

England play another ball from deep, this time from Gerrard. Ashley Cole can't reach it though.

68

Beckham picks out Owen's run across the box, but the flag goes up.

66

Michael Owen wins a free kick on the corner of the Northern Ireland box. Beckham's ball in is met by Rooney, but it skips off Rooney's head and goes wide.

65

Great play from Joe Cole down England's right. His ball in is picked off by Taylor in the Irish goal though.

63' Capaldi booked.

62

Gillespie and Baird exchange passes on Northern Ireland's right, but Gillespie's shot come cross is comfortably saved by Robinson.

61

Lovely footwork by Joe Cole on England's right. Beckham is caught in possession in England's half, but Rio Ferdinand clears up the danger.

59

Lampard strikes impressively from distance, but Maik Taylor just about gets fingertips to it as it flys inches wide.

58

Rooney is now playing as a more conventional striker as Sven alters the formation to a 4-4-2.

57

James Quinn hits a magnificent swerving shot from distance which clips the side-netting on its way wide.

55

Cole does well down the right, selling an Irish defender before putting the cross in.

 

54' Joe Cole replaces Shaun Wright-Phillips.

53

Northern Ireland push forward, spurred on by the phenomenal support from the stands. A long ball is pumped into England's box and is won by Quinn, but Robinson is fouled and the Three Lions clear.

52

But Keith Gillespie curls it over the bar from the left hand side of the pitch.

51

Northern Ireland have a free-kick on the edge of the box after a late challenge by Wright-Phillips...

50

A lofted ball forward by Northern Ireland is picked up Robinson in the English goal.

49

Young seems to be playing higher up the pitch now, and he plays a one-two with Wright-Phillips. He just can't collect though.

47

England look livelier after the break. Rooney's ball from the left into the box is dangerous, but the Northern Ireland defence deals with it well.

46

Wright-Phillips and Young combine down the England right. The ball goes out to Beckham but his cross-field ball is intercepted.

Northern Ireland kick off the second half. The teams are unchanged.

45+1 

The half-time whistle blows with the score at 0-0.

45

England have a fantastic opportunity as Gerrard surges forward and sets up Owen. The Newcastle new boy trys a spectacular overhead kick, but it goes straight into Taylor's arms.

43

It's not the prettiest of finishes to the first half as both sides seem to be playing it too long as they push for the opening goal.

42' Wayne Rooney is cautioned for using his arm in a challenge.

41

Northern Ireland have some good possession on the edge of England's box but can't get a shot away.

40

England work the ball out to the left, but Ashley Cole's cross is over-hit and goes behind for a goal-kick.

38

Wright-Phillips turns well in the English half and motors forward beating two men. He runs into a green wall though and loses the ball.

36

The Irish have a throw down their right wing. Baird's long throw-in is a danger but England hold firm.

35

Northern Ireland continue to frustrate England with their high energy and quick closing down. England have good possession in the midfield but eventually it breaks down.

34

Lampard picks out Beckham on the left, but his left-footed cross goes straight into Maik Taylor's arms.

32

Baird's throw from the right is met by Jamie Carragher in the England box, but his header goes to Healy. He shoots, but it is blocked. 

30

Beckham hits a magnificent ball to Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United man shows good strength, but the ball to Frank Lampard has too much on it.

29' Damien Johnson collects the game's first booking for a late challenge.

28

Luke Young is fouled by Davis on the edge of the box. Beckham whips it over the wall and hits the woodwork. So close.

26

The Three Lions are seeing a lot of the ball but can't find the incisive pass. Lampard and Gerrard combine but the Chelsea man's shot is blocked.

25

England are starting to look more threatening. Owen is picked out in the box from the right. It reaches him at an awkward height however, and he can't get a shot away.

23 

Wright-Phillips has his first chance to really go at the Irish defence and carries the ball deep into their half. He's held up well by Hughes though who deflects wide for a corner.

21 

Another great pass from Beckham, this time to Cole, as the captain revels in his central role. The move continues forward and breaks in the box, but Owen can't connect.

20

It's all very congested on this narrow Windsor Park pitch in Belfast. Beckham plays another incredible volleyed pass to Wright-Phillips, but he can't collect.

19

England win a corner on the left hand side, but Beckham's cross is cleared to safety.

18 

England pass the ball around their defence but Northern Ireland are closing down the play at every opportunity.

17

Beckham picks out Shaun Wright-Phillips with another high quality pass, but the flying winger is closed down well.

15

The ball is chipped forward to Michael Owen who controls instantly on the edge of the box. He shoots but the power is taken from the strike by a deflection. Taylor collects.

14

England again try and seek out Shaun Wright-Phillips - this time with a long ball by Frank Lampard. But the Chelsea combination ends with nothing as Wright-Phillips is adjudged to have hand-balled

13

Gerrard hits it long seeking out Rooney. Chris Baird comfortably gets back and heads into the arms of Taylor.

11

David Beckham hits a fifty yard ball into the corner, but Shaun Wright-Phillips isn't that quick! It goes out for a throw in.

Northern Ireland attack down the right. The danger is comfortably dealt with. Lampard returns to the action.

8

Frank Lampard is caught by David Healy and limps off for treatment to his right knee.

6

Northern Ireland win a free-kick on the England left which Capaldi swings in. The ball drops to Johnson but his shot lacks power.

The corner is cleared, but England continue to push forward.

4

Beckham plays a fantastic ball out to Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right, who runs at the defence and fires a shot which is deflected behind for a corner.

Beckham neatly turns away from two players in the middle of the park before Gerrard is brought down as the Irish pressure the ball.

Ashley Cole is brought down deep in the England half. The resultant free-kick is pumped forward and Northern Ireland clear.

England, playing in a 4-3-3 formation, get the game started wearing their home kit of white, blue, white.



Team details

England
Paul Robinson, Luke Young, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, David Beckham (c), Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Shaun Wright-Phillips,
Subs: Matthew Upson, Chris Kirkland, Phil Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent.

Northern Ireland
Taylor, Baird, Hughes, Craigan, Capaldi, Gillespie, Johnson, Davis, Elliott, Healy, Quinn