Northern Ireland earned a point in their World Cup qualifier with Azerbaijan on Wednesday evening.
------------------------------------------------------------
Predict result and win big with Soccer6
------------------------------------------------------------
Rauf Aliyev had given the visitors a fifth minute lead and it looked like being enough to secure his side all three points, but David Healy popped up in the sixth minute of injury-time to secure a draw.
The hosts started brightly and threatened to score on numerous occasions but Kyle Lafferty, Daniel Lafferty, Craig Cathcart and Chris Baird all missed good early chances.
Despite going for 11 matches without a win, their draw with Portugal seemed to have given the side some much-needed confidence with Niall McGinn teeing up Lafferty after just three minutes, but his close-range header cleared the cross bar.
But Aliyev netted from Azerbaijan's first attack as his long-range strike curled inside the post.
Salahat Agayev then made a good save to deny Lafferty after his first touch allowed the goalkeeper to race off his line and block the goal-bound effort.
Cathcart then wasted another good chance as he headed wide of the target as Lafferty went even closer as he headed over from close range.
The second half started in much the same way with Cathcart volleying over from six yards before Roy Carroll had to be at his best to deny Jihan Oskara.
Baird then had two good opportunities with his head that he failed to make the most of but the hosts' fighting spirit was not to be denied as Healy fired a 20-yard free-kick into the back of the net.
Post A Comment!
Be the first to post a comment on this story