Our wee country slays the superstars

Northern Ireland 1 England 0

Northern Ireland have never won the World Cup - but it felt like it last night.

After going four years without a competitive victory, our players have pulled off back-to-back triumphs and arguably the biggest result of the 125-year history of international football in this country.

Maik Taylor, Chris Baird, Tony Capaldi, Aaron Hughes, Stephen Craigan, Steve Davis, Keith Gillespie, Damien Johnson, David Healy, James Quinn, Stuart Elliott, Warren Feeney, Ivan Sproule and Michael Duff. Their names will go down in history as the men who played against England on September 7, 2005 and left the field as heroes.

Players from Plymouth Argyle, Motherwell, Peterborough United and Southampton Reserves went out onto the pitch and beat England's team of Champions League performers and multi-millionaire superstars.

Teams only usually come back for a lap of honour after winning a cup final or league title, but every Northern Ireland player returned to milk the ovation from the fans and to thank them for the contribution they made to this famous victory.

Fourteen thousand in the stands loved it, 14 players who played with heart and passion savoured the night and all around the world Northern Ireland natives will scarcely believe the impossible dream came true.

Half an hour after the final whistle many fans were still singing in the stands after their team had inflicted Sven-Goran Eriksson's first defeat in a qualifying game and in the process possibly ended his hopes of automatic qualification the World Cup in Germany.

As early as 40 minutes before kick-off Windsor Park rocked to the sound of the Green and White Army. With this being the biggest footballing occasion that Northern Ireland has hosted for many years, the fans made sure they were in the ground well before kick-off.

A minute's silence was held before proceedings got under way as a mark of respect for Dessie Murdock, father of Northern Ireland squad member Colin Murdock, who passed away on Tuesday night.

Murdock's absence from the squad was the only change Lawrie Sanchez made to his 18, with the starting line-up remaining the same and Michael Duff coming onto the bench. The Rotherham player still attended the game though to show his support for his team-mates in arguably the biggest game of their international careers.

The inevitable return of Michael Owen for England saw Joe Cole dropped to the bench, with Eriksson sticking with the 4-5-1 system used against Wales.

The first roar from the crowd came after 70 seconds, but it was an ironic cheer following Steven Gerrard's misplaced pass for Ashley Cole that flew over the full-back's head and out of play.

The opening few minutes of the game were somewhat rushed.

Northern Ireland were enjoying their share of possession in the England half and won a free-kick on the right wing after seven minutes. Capaldi's delivery wasn't the best and the ball was cleared from the box. Johnson was quick to react and fired a shot in which was also blocked.

The scrappy opening persisted with Northern Ireland quick to make vital tackles.

The main attacking ploy for the visitors seemed to be utilising Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right wing against Capaldi and the English midfield players were continually looking for the Chelsea man with their passes.

It was an attack along the left side though that brought England's first real opening of the game when after a neat build-up Wayne Rooney lifted the ball over the top for Michael Owen but the home defence was relieved to see his shot hit Craigan and roll into Taylor's arms.

Rooney then fired a shot in himself, which again took a couple of deflections and when Owen couldn't reach the ball Capaldi cleared his lines.

On 28 minutes David Beckham was given his first chance to show his dead ball skills. England were given a free-kick in almost exactly the same position as when Stuart Elliott opened the scoring for Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan on Saturday. The England captain's shot smacked off Taylor's left-hand post and away to safety.

Northern Ireland then came back into the game. Baird's long throw was used as an attacking weapon and as the ball drifted all the way to the back post, Healy swivelled and volleyed a shot that Rio Ferdinand did well to block. The ball then came back into the box and this time Healy was ruled offside.

The questionable temperament of Rooney then reared its head again four minutes before half-time. He was frustrated at not being awarded a free-kick and even though the ball was still in play he kicked it from just inside his own half straight to Taylor. From the kick out the Manchester United star was shown a yellow card after throwing an elbow in an aerial challenge with Gillespie.

Northern Ireland breathed a sigh of relief on the stroke of half-time following England's best scoring chance of the first-half.

Gerrard got in behind the defence, his attempted pass across the face of goal to Owen was blocked and spun up into the air, the £17million Newcastle striker had time to propel himself for an overhead kick that was comfortably caught by Taylor.

Northern Ireland wasted a chance from a free-kick early in the second-half which Gillespie took and sent the ball spinning high past the far post.

Nine minutes after the break Joe Cole, who opened the scoring when the teams met at Old Trafford, replaced Wright-Phillips, but there was no change in formation.

The Northern Ireland midfield continued to do a good job of breaking up England's play. They won the ball on 57 minutes, fed Quinn and he fired in a powerful shot from 30-yards that had some fans ready to celebrate as the ball ruffled the side netting.

England came close themselves when Lampard was given time and space to line up a shot from 25-yards that went inches wide, although he claimed that Taylor got his fingertips to the ball and appealed for a corner.

On 74 minutes Healy ended a 26-year run in which Northern Ireland hadn't scored at home against England.

Steve Davis, who previously had been doing a magnificent job in snuffing out the impact of Gerrard and Lampard, finally got the chance to show his class.

The Cullybackey man held the ball and delayed his pass until the right second and then he lifted the ball into the path of Healy.

Northern Ireland's record goalscorer took the ball in his stride and with the England defence trailing in his wake the Leeds United man fired a shot across Robinson and into the far corner of the net for his 19th goal at international level.

Within seconds, Jermaine Defoe replaced Gerrard and Lampard was hauled off soon after with Owen Hargreaves coming on.

Davis and Healy linked up again but this time Ashley Cole slipped and allowed Healy to try a cheeky chip that went only inches over the crossbar.

The fourth official held up the board to indicate four minutes of stoppage time and England pushed and pushed but their best effort was a Rooney shot that flew over.

The width of the post denied Northern Ireland a convincing victory as Feeney, who had replaced Healy, broke through and shot across goal and with Robinson beaten, the ball rolled agonisingly past the post.

The final whistle sparked scenes of wild celebration. It was a night for the players to enjoy and they made the most of it.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor, Baird, Capaldi, Hughes, Craigan, Davis, Gillespie, Johnson, Healy, Quinn, Elliott. Subs: Ingham, Robinson, Jones, Feeney, Sproule, Duff, Brunt.

ENGLAND: Robinson, Young, A Cole, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Carragher, Beckham, Lampard, Rooney, Owen, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Upson, Kirkland, P Neville, Hargreaves, J Cole, Defoe, Bent.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)