SOCCER - European Championship Qualifying/ Northern Ireland 3 Spain 2: Today is the anniversary of Northern Ireland's magical humbling of England here, when David Healy scored a never-to-be-forgotten winner, but the Leeds United centre-forward somehow managed to go one better last night, producing a thrilling hat-trick to defeat the might of Spain.
Each goal was a classic of its kind, too, and Healy now has 23 goals in 52 appearances. Four days after the Irish were mauled 3-0 at Windsor by Iceland, Healy led one of the least foreseen comebacks in international football in modern times. With goals from Xavi and David Villa Spain led twice but Northern Ireland refused to accept their role and Healy scored on 20, 65 and 79 minutes.
It was the first time Northern Ireland had even scored in Belfast against Spain, a run dating back to 1963, and the first hat-trick for the country since Colin Clarke's in 1991, against the Faroe Islands. Maik Taylor helped Lawrie Sanchez with an 88th-minute stop from Carlos Puyol but no one could deny that the Irish deserved victory.
So bad was the performance and result against Iceland last Saturday Sanchez and his squad had been destabilised. Sanchez dropped four players to bring in the likes of Roy Carroll, back starting in goal after nearly two years deputising for Maik Taylor. Sadly for Carroll, and Sanchez, what looked like a strained groin ended Carroll's night after just 11 minutes.
Rather more radically, Sanchez introduced two 18-year-olds, Burnley's Kyle Lafferty, who has played for his country before, and Jonathan Evans, who was not even in the original squad. Evans is employed by Manchester United but is currently on loan at Antwerp. This was his debut. In the opening minutes the left-back had Fernando Torres charging at him but Evans coped well. However, when Evans' opposite number Antonio Lopez jinked inside Keith Gillespie down the Spanish left on 14 minutes, danger felt imminent.
Lopez's cross flew to the far post where Xavi steered a volley under the jumping Evans and beyond the helpless Taylor. It was a landmark goal for Spain, their 1,000th.
There was little celebration of that inside Windsor Park. Fear might have been a more appropriate description and yet Northern Ireland had been Spain's equals apart from the goal. Steve Davis and Sammy Clingan were bent on harassing Xabi Alonso and his colleagues in the Spanish midfield while Healy and the Barcelona defender Carlos Puyol begun a personal tussle that was to last the whole game.
Perhaps that was in the mind of Puyol when Healy equalised. When Taylor punted a free-kick to the edge of the Spain box, Lafferty used his 6ft 4in frame to head the ball goalward. The ball fell between Puyol and Alonso and, after both had stared at it for a second, the Liverpool player decided to try to nod it back to Iker Casillas.
Healy saw the error and nipped in to beat Casillas with a flick even though he had his back to goal. "Are You England in Disguise?" chanted the home fans. The mood was different now and Spain appeared uncomfortable with the Irish spirit. Cesc Fabregas was sent on for David Albelda but it was Lafferty who almost made it 2-1 in first-half injury-time with a header from a Davis cross. Casillas was stranded and relieved to see the ball go a foot wide.
A snatched chance by Torres, also before the interval, was a reminder of Spain's threat. But this was now a contest and a fizzing Gillespie shot in the 50th minute was evidence that the home team had belief.
Then a crushing blow. Just when a Spanish move was broken down by Davis, Villa recovered possession and an unfortunate touch from Clingan took the ball to Fabregas. The Arsenal midfielder slid a cute pass back to Villa who converted smoothly and Spain looked to be on their way to an expected victory.
For the next few minutes the visitors just kept the ball but then Gillespie was brought down by Lopez near the byline. Clingan took the free-kick - the definition of well-worked - and Healy peeled off Puyol and belted in his second joyous equaliser.
Guardian Service
NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll (Taylor 12), Duff, Aaron Hughes, Craigan, Evans, Gillespie, Clingan, Davis, Baird, Healy (Feeney 85), Lafferty (Quinn 54). Subs Not Used: McAuley, Elliott, McCann, Jones. Booked: Duff, Feeney. Goals: Healy 20, 64, 80.
SPAIN: Casillas, Sergio Ramos (Salgado 45), Puyol, Pablo, Antonio Lopez, Albelda (Fabregas 29), Xavi, Alonso, Torres (Luis Garcia 63), Villa, Raul. Subs Not Used: Reina, Marchena, Reyes, Iniesta. Booked: Antonio Lopez, Puyol. Goals: Xavi 14, Villa 52.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
