Switzerland - 0  Northern Ireland - 0: Any thoughts that Northern Ireland will be the whipping boys of World Cup qualifying - they are in Group Six with England and Wales - appear misplaced after they extended their unbeaten run to six games.

Indeed, they would have been celebrating victory had David Healy, Stuart Elliott and Gary Hamilton made more of late chances. Despite being deprived of a clutch of regulars, Lawrie Sanchez's side demonstrated impressive organisation to nullify the threat of a side regrouping after a disappointing Euro 2004.

A rare Swiss success in Portugal was the emergence of striker Johann Vonlanthen, the 18-year-old who claimed his side's only goal in the tournament to usurp Wayne Rooney as the youngest goalscorer in European Championship finals history.

Vonlanthen confirmed his pedigree twice in the opening exchanges when his pace and alertness threatened to unlock the visitors defence.

The Irish managed to produce some attacking movements of their own 11 minutes from the interval when Stephen Craigan sent a far-post header wide from a Keith Gillespie free-kick.

The pattern of the game was unaffected by the half-time break with Vonlanthen again drawing an excellent block from Roy Carroll. And the Swiss came closer still from the resulting corner when Ludovic Magnin headed against the woodwork.

But the longer the game wore on, the more likely it appeared the Irish could claim an unexpected victory.

Healy had already seen a 63rd minute drive tipped over by Pascal Zuberhuler before Stuart Elliott's shot was cleared off the line by Johann Vogel. Then with 13 minutes left, the substitute Gary Hamilton wastefully sent a free header wide.

SWITZERLAND: Zuberbuhler; Haas, Muller, M Yakin (Henchoz, h-t), Spycher; Huggel (Magnin, h-t), Vogel (Lonfat, 77), Wicky; Cabanas (Frei, 82), H Yakin, Vonlanthen (Muff, 60).

NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll; A Hughes, Craigan (Duff, 78), Williams (Murdock, 67), Capaldi; Gillespie (McVeigh, 50), Sonner, Johnson, Elliott (Brunt, 81); Healy (Hamilton, 70), Smith.

Referee: N Vollquartz (Denmark).