Northern Ireland score late to beat Belarus

Josh Magennis came off the bench to score an 87th minute winner as Northern Ireland beat Belarus 2-1 in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Jonny Evans had headed them into a first-half lead, but it was short lived as the visitors leveled with a deflected strike just minutes later.

Magennis was perfectly placed just 3 minutes from time to finish from close range and wrap up a massive 3 points for Michael O'Neill's side.

It was a quiet game in the opening period, with the first shot on target not coming until the 20th minute, Paddy McNair stinging the palms of the keeper with a powerful 20-yard drive that was angling into the top corner.

With Northern Ireland growing in confidence, Kyle Lafferty's awkwardly dipping shot from 25-yards was pushed behind for a corner that led to the 30th minute opener.

Jordan Jones played it short to Niall McGinn whose whipped delivery found Steven Davis at the near post. The captain flicked his header back into the danger area, and Jonny Evans rose highest before confidently planting a header into the bottom corner to score his 3rd international goal.

However, the lead didn't last long. 3 minutes later, Igor Stasevich pulled Belarus level when his shot from outside the box took a huge deflection off Stuart Dallas and looped over Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

For both sides the chances largely dried up in the second half, but Northern Ireland were piling on the pressure, and dominating possession.

The winner finally came in the 87th minute.

Stuart Dallas did well down the right to find the overlapping run of McNair, and his low cross was inch-perfect, finding the left foot of an unmarked Josh Magennis to steer the ball into the net from 6 yards