Northern Ireland 2 - 1 Denmark 

Another night of spellbinding tension in Belfast, this time conducted amid a downpour of biblical proportions, culminated in yet another magical Northern Ireland winner from David Healy. With 10 minutes left, Healy twisted on the edge of the Denmark area and, without looking up, dinked an exquisite chip to the far post that left Thomas Sorensen stranded.

It was a feeling so many visiting keepers had experienced. Windsor Park was delirious and the tension immediately switched to events in Madrid, where Spain were hosting Sweden. But the Irish had fulfilled their part of the equation once again in this campaign, coming from behind at home. The Arsenal teenager Nicklas Bendtner had given Denmark a 51st-minute lead but Warren Feeney, on loan at Swansea from Cardiff, equalised 11 minutes later.

Healy then scored his 13th goal in this qualifying campaign, breaking Davor Suker's European Championship record.

This was what was meant by floodlit football. Only under duress did referee Pieter Vink apparently give his approval to the game starting and his thinking was perfectly rational: the pitch was not suitable for rugby league, never mind international football at a crucial stage of a qualifying campaign.

The evidence of lying water was visible and when Gareth McAuley attempted a third-minute pass down the right wing the ball simply plugged in a puddle. In golf, McAuley would have been awarded a drop but here he had to get on with it.

The Danes did so with a bit more wit at the beginning, their players flighting passes rather than trying to drill them across the sodden turf. Such a pass, from Bendtner, created the first chance, in the 13th minute. Bendtner's cross to the far post bisected the Irish defence and offered Dennis Rommedahl a half-volley from close in. The former Charlton winger was unable to keep his effort down.

The game lost its way for the rest of the opening half. True, the Irish went into the interval having forced seven corners to Denmark's one, which was an indication of pressure and commitment, but not a single attempt on target resulted. What did happen along the way was that Keith Gillespie collected a harsh booking and that means the Sheffield United winger misses the match in Spain.

For the second half, the rain stopped, but this night was now no longer about the conditions, but Northern Ireland's tempo. A high-energy 45 minutes was required and it started promisingly when Feeney peeled away at a Chris Brunt free-kick and caused some alarm in the visitors' area.

That, however, was followed by Maik Taylor's first serious involvement – diving at the feet of Bendtner – and the Arsenal forward was soon seen again, this time with a more decisive impact. When Leon Andreasen whacked in a hopeful volley from the right, the ball ran straight to Bendtner. His control was good, his turn slick and only a good block denied him. But the ricochet took the ball back to Bendtner and from the edge of the six-yard box, he stabbed it low beyond Taylor.

The deflation around Windsor Park was tangible. But not for long. First Feeney tested Sorensen with a useful header, then Sorensen sprawled to tip away a Steve Davis shot, Martin Laursen providing an excellent, desperate clearance.

When another Irish corner was half-cleared, the ball was sent out to Brunt on the left. His inswinging centre was sweet and Feeney met it with a solid flick that seemed to go through Sorensen. Suddenly the ground was alive again. Feeney looked twice his normal size, was running at twice his usual speed and when he spun on the ball and unleashed a 30-yard volley, it beat Sorensen only to cannon back off the upright.

It felt like there could only be one winner: when Healy swivelled, that feeling was proven.