Late equaliser gets draw for NI

Northern Ireland 3 Austria 3

Stuart Elliott came off the bench to secure a point for Northern Ireland in a dramatic World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park tonight.

With four minutes of injury-time played, the Hull striker forced the ball home from close range after James Quinn had headed on a cross from Keith Gillespie.

However a point is hardly good enough for Northern Ireland and with away matches to come against England and Poland they face an uphill battle to claim a play-off spot.

The team were left to rue the fact they missed two clear chances inside the first five minutes.

Quinn sent a weak chip into the arms of former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger and Colin Murdock supplied a tame header in front of the posts.

Austria took the lead in the 14th minute when Markus Schopp rounded off a flowing move to score in front of the posts.

Christian Mayrleb started the ball rolling by picking up Ivica Vastic and he cut it inside to Schopp, who made no mistake.

Austria, who lost at home to Poland at the weekend, were growing in confidence after making the breakthrough.

Northern Ireland were beginning to get frustrated and Tommy Doherty was booked in the 33rd minute for a challenge on Vastic.

However they drew level in the 35th minute thanks to a wonderful goal from David Healy, his eighth in 10 games for his country.

Jeff Whitley played a nice little ball in and the Preston striker took it on his right foot before flicking it on to his left.

Then from 25 yards he flighted the ball over the stranded Manninger, to the delight of the home crowd.

Considering it was his first game in three weeks following a groin injury the quality of the finish had to be admired.

Northern Ireland almost added a second in the 42nd minute when Manninger reacted superbly to push away a powerful header from Quinn following a deep cross from Gillespie.

Then a minute later the goalkeeper again had to be on his toes to block a George McCartney piledriver.

It was an astonishing turnaround with Northern Ireland stringing passes together – and Austria looked rattled.

There was certainly a buzz around the old ground as the team went in search of a rare win.

Quinn was looking lively and almost got away from Feldhofer only for the Austrian to make a timely block.

The Austrians were looking in a little bit of dissarray after that superb strike from Healy and seemed nothing like the team that had taken the lead.

Doherty and Damien Johnson were bossing the midfield as Northern Ireland were producing one of their best performances for a long time.

Northern Ireland took the lead on the hour when Murdock scored his first goal for his country on his 25th international appearance.

He got on the end of Johnson’s corner to head past Manninger after some appalling marking by Austria to put the home side 2-1 ahead.

Murdock has not played for Hibernian for a month because of a knee injury but he showed good agility to find the target.

Northern Ireland’s euphoria last only 60 seconds with Mayrleb squeezing a shot inside Carroll’s near post.

Tempers became frayed and Schopp appeared to head butt Quinn. Then Murdock got involved and lashed out at the Austria captain. Australian referee Mark Shield took no action, however.

Then Manninger made another superb save to turn away a clever free-kick from Healy 25 yards out.

Austria hit back on the counter and Mayrleb got into a good position but failed to pick out Schopp and the home fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Schopp made it 3-2 to Austria in the 72 minute after slack marking by Murdock allowed Mayrleb to set up the opening.

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez rang the changes by bringing on Elliott and Steve Jones for Murdock and Doherty.

Quinn was the booked for diving – his second yellow card of the campaign – and that rules him out of the England game in March.

Then came that astonishing finish and Northern Ireland’s never-say-die spirit has to be admired.

Austria, for their part, lost their cool at the end with the referee having to be escorted to the tunnel.