Two-goal Healy is hero at Windsor

By Niall Glynn
BBC News Website

Northern Ireland football fans were in dreamland on Wednesday night after their team pulled off another fantastic result at Belfast's Windsor Park.

A 2-1 victory over previously undefeated Sweden put Lawrie Sanchez's men top of their 2008 European Championship qualifying table, midway through their 12 games.

Striker David Healy was again the hero for Northern Ireland

That would have been beyond the expectations of even the most diehard Northern Ireland fan when they were drawn in a group featuring top teams Spain, Sweden and Denmark.

It also looked highly unlikely after a 3-0 defeat by Iceland in their opening game.

The hero for the men in green was yet again striker David Healy, who hit his eighth and ninth goals of the qualifying campaign.

Healy scored in the 31st and 58th minutes after Sweden had gone ahead in the 27th minute.

The Leeds United striker said while his first goal was the better of the two, the second was the sweeter as it was the match winner.

But he added: "They are all sweet strikes at Windsor Park."

The win was another giant performance by Northern Ireland, who provided perhaps the shock of the qualifiers last September when they beat a star-studded Spanish side 3-2.

Sweden had won their previous four matches in Group F and rarely fail to qualify for a major tournament.

Swedish fans enjoyed some Belfast hospitality before the game

Healy has now scored nine goals in six qualifiers this campaign, including two hat-tricks.

After the match, NI manager Sanchez said he was delighted by the result but stressed there was still a long way to go in the campaign.

"It's great to be top of the group at the halfway stage.

"Thirteen points from six games is phenomenal - but we'll have to get as many if not more from the next six.

"There is a lot of football left in this group," Sanchez said.

The European Championship takes place in June of 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

Victory may have eased pressure on Republic manager Steve Staunton

The mood of Republic of Ireland fans was also lifted on Wednesday night after a 1-0 victory over Slovakia at Croke Park in Dublin.

Team manager Steve Staunton has been under intense after recent performances such as last month's injury time victory over minnows San Marino.

However, victory over the dangerous Slovakians and Wales at the weekend will take off some of the heat.

Reading's Kevin Doyle scored the winner in the 13th minute.