N. Ireland top group after win over Poland

Northern Ireland 3 Poland 2

Northern Ireland suddenly have a chink of light in their bid to book a ticket to the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Manager Nigel Worthington saw his side go top of Group Three after a rousing victory over Poland at Windsor Park.

It was just the result he was looking for with Slovenia due to arrive in Belfast on Wednesday.

Northern Ireland may have played a game more than their rivals but this win will surely boost their confidence.

Poland, meanwhile, were left to rue their luck with Michal Zewlakow scoring a bizarre own goal.

Warren Feeney started the ball rolling and Jonny Evans weighed in with his first goal for the province to spark a night of celebrations in the capital.

Feeney should have put Northern Ireland ahead after three minutes when he was released by Chris Brunt.

However, the striker on loan to Dundee United from Cardiff dragged his effort wide of the post.

The province kept up the pressure and David Healy latched on to a careless back pass from Zewlakow five minutes later.

Healy’s first touch was good but his effort was scrambled away, before Northern Ireland took the lead in the 10th minute.

Brunt hoisted the ball to the back post, Damien Johnson headed it into the area and Feeney made no mistake from close range for his fourth goal at this level.

Johnson – captain for the night on his 50th cap – then found space on the right following a long ball from Brunt, only for his cross to be cut out.

This was a good spell for Northern Ireland, who went into the qualifier unbeaten in seven home competitive matches.

Poland, however, broke out of their slumber to equalise in the 27th minute by springing the offside trap.

Ireneusz Jelen raced away and, although goalkeeper Maik Taylor got a hand to his effort, he was unable to prevent the ball going in the net.

There were brief protests but Jelen looked to have timed his run to perfection.

Play was then held up as one of the assistant referees appeared to be struck by a missile thrown from the crowd and needed treatment to his head.

There was another scare for Northern Ireland on the stroke of half-time when Jelen went clear on goal but his touch let him down.

But Northern Ireland were celebrating a minute into the second half as they regained the lead.

Evans scored his first goal for the province, sweeping the ball home beyond Artur Boruc following an inswinging corner from Grant McCann.

Evans, who is making remarkable progress at Manchester United, could not contain his delight and it was just the boost Northern Ireland were looking for in this crucial fixture.

The atmosphere was electric with the province heading for the top of the table.

Poland, however, responded and Taylor had to be alert to get a safe pair of hands on a free-kick whipped in by Jacek Krzynowek.

Krzynowek then tried his luck from distance but failed to test Birmingham shot-stopper Taylor.

Northern Ireland extended their lead in the 61st minute thanks to a bizarre own goal from Zewlakow.

He looked on in disbelief as his back pass was completely missed by Boruc, the ball bobbling on the rutted pitch and bouncing over his foot.

Northern Ireland almost made it 4-1 in the 74th minute when Gareth McAuley peeled away from his marker but headed over the bar following a corner from McCann.

Poland pulled a goal back in stoppage-time when substitute Marek Saganowski scored with a header following a cross from Jakub Wawrzyniak but it was too little, too late.