Irish joy as Healy shakes Spain
Northern Ireland (1) 3 Spain (1) 2
David Healy, the Leeds United striker, hit a hat-trick as Northern Ireland shocked Spain with this deserved European Championship qualifying win at Windsor Park last night.
Healy's final goal, the 23rd of his international career, was a classic. Goalkeeper Maik Taylor's long clearance bounced, the Spanish defence let it through, and on raced Healy to fire home.
Spain put in a dramatic finish, but Northern Ireland, thanks to several brilliant saves by Taylor, held out.
Healy's hat-trick was the first at Windsor Park since George Best's in the 5-0 victory over Cyprus in 1971. The last hat-trick came in 1991 by Colin Clarke and included a penalty in a European Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Landskrona, Denmark.
Northern Ireland captain Aaron Hughes, the Aston Villa defender, said: "We were stung when defeated by Iceland on Saturday. We are strong mentally. We stick together as a group and have come back in the best possible manner. It was a fantastic show."
Healy, the hat-trick hero, said: "Everyone is talking about the third goal but I felt the first was special. I had scored against Spain, one of the top teams in the world.
"We showed great character to come back twice in a game which was pulsating from start to finish. I thought much of the media criticism at the weekend was a little out of order. We gave the proper response.
"People now say I'm a legend — not so. Gerry Armstrong can be described as that, after all he got the goal against Spain in the 1-0 victory at Valencia 1982 — and he did it in the World Cup."
Misfortune hit Northern Ireland after only five minutes when Roy Carroll, the West Ham goalkeeper, sustained a groin injury after taking a goal kick and was replaced by Birmingham's Taylor, who was making his 55th appearance.
Carroll was only on the pitch for three minutes and had not touched the ball before Spain, favourites to win Group F, broke the deadlock in the 14th minute. Antonio Lopez went round Keith Gillespie on the left flank, floated the ball to the far post where Xavi produced a clinical finish for Spain's 1,000th goal in international football.
However, Northern Ireland's nightmare 3-0 defeat by Iceland on Saturday seemed forgotten, backed by an incredible vocal support of around 14,000. Confidence was further boosted when Healy equalised in the 20th minute — his 21st goal in 52 internationals, an all-time Irish record.
Xavi attempted a back header which did not reach the goalkeeper and in nipped the diminutive Healy to control it with his knee and slide the ball over the line.
Northern Ireland made four changes from Saturday and included two 18-year-olds, centre-forward Kyle Lafferty, of Burnley, and Jonny Evans, the Manchester United centre-back now on loan with feeder club Royal Antwerp.
The fans booed the Irish team off the pitch on Saturday but this time gave them a standing ovation and deservedly so for a commendable effort by a young and very inexperienced side put out by manager Lawrie Sanchez.
However, a defensive mistake gave Spain a 52nd-minute lead. Sammy Clingan, the Nottingham Forest midfielder, failed to clear, leaving Spanish substitute Cesc Fabregas, on for Valancia defender David Abelda, to push it through to David Villa, who touched it over the line for his third goal in three matches.
Northern Ireland, who had put in a tremendous effort, appeared to wilt as the Spaniards increased the pressure, with the second goal silencing the visiting fans.
They were ecstatic, however, in the 65th minute when Northern Ireland equalised with another Healy goal. A magnificent free-kick from Clingan cut through the defence and Healy, inside the box, hammered home before adding his winner.
Northern Ireland (4-1-3-2): Carroll (West Ham) Duff (Burnley), Craigan (Motherwell), Hughes (A Villa, capt), Evans (Manchester United); Baird (Southampton); Clingan (Nottm Forest), Davis (A Villa), Gillespie (Sheff Utd); Healy (Leeds), Lafferty (Burnley).
Subsitutes: Carroll (Taylor, Birmingham 11min); Feeney (Luton Town for Healy 85min); Quinn (Northampton Town for Lafferty 81min).
Spain (4-3-1-2): Casillas; Ramos (Delgado 46 mins), Puyol, Pablo, Lopez; Xabi Alonso, Albelda (Fabregas 29), Xavi Hernandez; Raul; Torres (Garcia 63), Villa.
Referee: F De Bleeckere (Belgium).
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