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26

2019 Four Wins Out of O’Neill’s Substitutions Give Northern Ireland
Away Win Against Estonia
12th, Michael O’Neill

June Four For Northern hailed his super subs
after two late goals saw
| Ireland After Late Northern Ireland
snatch a 2-1 win over
EXAMINER Paddy McNair Strike Estonia in Tallinn to

keep their Euro 2020
qualifying hopes on

IRISH track.
K o n s t a n t i n
Vassiljev’s 25th-minute
free-kick left Northern
Ireland in danger of
falling to what could
have been a damaging
defeat, but two goals in the space of four minutes from substi-
tutes Conor Washington and Josh Magennis earned three
important points.
Magennis was involved in both goals – and was at one stage
credited with both – while fellow replacement Jordan Jones set
up the second.
Asked about his “inspired” changes, O’Neill smiled as he
said: “I think the players had something to do with it as well.
“I thought we started quite well, but we’d kind of run out of
ideas a little bit. We had a couple of opportunities before half-
time where we maybe could have done better, but I thought
the response in the second half was great.
“We ended up with probably too many attacking players on
the pitch, but we needed to do that to get back into the game.
“I didn’t feel at 1-1 that we should settle, we had to try and
win the game. The subs were made with the intention of not
just getting back into the game, (they were made) with the
addy McNair’s first who are sitting pretty at the dangerous position. intention of winning it.”
international goal top of the group. Belarus introduced Denis They did just that, with Magennis the star of the show. The
Psaw Northern Ireland It was another game Laptev, who has six goals in Bolton forward appeared to get a touch on Washington’s shot
snatch a 1-0 win over where Northern Ireland had 10 for Dinamo Brest, and as he fought to create space in the area and made the decisive
Belarus and make it four to dig deep before finding a Northern Ireland’s defenders intervention on Jones’ cross.
wins out of four in Euro late winner – just as they did quickly converged on the 6ft It was a sweet moment for the 28-year-old, who endured a
2020 qualifying. in the reverse fixture in 4in man to block a shot from difficult end to the campaign as Bolton slipped not only into Sky
A late night in Borisov March, and in Saturdays’ 2-1 the penalty spot. Bet League One, but also into administration, with club staff
looked like ending in frustra- win over Estonia. Peacock-Farrell did well to going unpaid.
tion for Michael O’Neill’s That match was turned by turn away a low shot from “Josh is brilliant,” O’Neill said. “He’s a player that you could-
men as they toiled in hot and substitutes Conor Igor Stasevich after Kisylak n’t not have in the squad.
humid conditions, but with Washington, Josh Magennis rolled a free-kick into his path “He’s great to have around. You ask him to play a number of
four minutes left McNair and Jones, who were all on the edge of the area, forc- positions and he does it. I think it means so much for him to
found the breakthrough. brought into the starting line ing the Leeds goalkeeper low play for Northern Ireland.
The Middlesbrough mid- up three days later. down to his left. “Jordan was disappointed he didn’t start, but his reaction was
fielder took the ball from Washington, in the shop Northern Ireland respond- fantastic. Josh’s reaction was fantastic, as was Conor’s. That
Jordan Jones on the left, window after being released ed at the other end where a gives you half a chance if your squad has that type of together-
skipped over the challenge of by Sheffield United, threat- stinging effort from substi- ness.”
Sergei Kisylak, and struck a ened at the start of both tute George Saville led to And claiming the opening goal is just as important for
low shot under the diving halves. something of a scramble. Washington, who had only limited playing time as Sheffield
Aleksandr Gutor. In the fourth minute, he Jones’ cross rolled across United earned promotion to the Premier League and now finds
The goal sparked wild cel- drove to the edge of the area the face of goal and the ball himself out of contract.
ebrations from the Northern before dragging a shot nar- would not sit for Northern “I felt like Conor looked hungry when he came into the
Ireland players who have rowly wide of the goal. Ireland before Belarus got it camps, in Manchester, in Austria,” O’Neill said.
repeated the mantra of tar- And at the start of the sec- behind for a corner. “From the first minute he came in he wins us a free-kick,
geting 12 points from their ond half, his driven effort Michael Smith was next to makes some great runs, got us up the pitch and in behind and
opening four fixtures and can brought a first save of the try but his left footed effort that’s what we wanted him to do.”
now celebrate achieving it. night out of the Belarus goal- curled just wide. It would have been a very different night had referee Fabio
With half the group games keeper. Belarus hit back with a Verissimo not ruled out a second goal for Estonia six minutes
gone, they have given them- In between Northern Yuri Kovalev driving towards before the break.
selves every chance of quali- Ireland had struggled to the area before laying it off to Madis Vihmann headed in but the referee awarded a free-
fying for a second consecu- threaten Gutor’s goal, but Pavel Nekhaychik, whose kick for a foul on Bailey Peacock-Farrell, though it appeared the
tive European finals. the game would open up con- shot went into the side-net- Leeds goalkeeper ran into Rauno Sappinen.
The victory piles pressure siderably in the second half as ting. Estonia coach Martin Reim refused to blame the officials,
on Holland, who may have both sides made changes. But with time ticking however.
two games in hand but will Stuart Dallas replaced down, McNair made the “Sometimes the referee gives it, sometimes not. It’s no use to
head to Germany in Magennis and used his first decisive strike to leave the criticise. It’s already done.
September nine points touch to head clear Sergei 660 travelling fans in rap- “Next time I hope our forward player is a bit more clever and
behind Northern Ireland, Kisylak’s free-kick from a tures. C doing things that the referee is not seeing.” C