Northern Ireland 3 - 2 Spain

Euro 2008 Qualifiers - Wed, 06 Sep 2006

Northern Ireland produced one of the greatest results in their history as they came from behind to beat Spain 3-2 at Windsor Park in Group F of the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The star of the show was David Healy as he fired a superlative hat-trick to give Lawrie Sanchez's men a historic win - almost exactly a year to the day when they famously beat England in Belfast.

Spain had twice taken the lead, through Xavi and David Villa - but the Northern Irish fought back twice before sealing victory with a goal ten minutes from time.

The performance from Sanchez's side was unrecognisable from the one they produced at the weekend as they succumbed 3-0 to Iceland, but it was fully deserved.

The Northern Irish had produced a terrific first half display and could easily have been ahead at half time rather than just level.

Spain looked good on the break but they were rarely comfortable against a team who never let them settle on the ball.

The home side, who handed competitive debuts to both Kyle Lafferty and 18-year-old Manchester United starlet Jonny Evans, opened up the Spanish defence just two minutes in when Mike Duff got free in the box and rifled his cross into the six-yard box but Healy just missed getting a touch.

The Irish were then unsettled when Roy Carroll - making his first start in between the posts for two years - was forced off with a groin injury and he was replaced by Maik Taylor.

However, the first piece of action Taylor was forced into was picking the ball out of the net as Spain took the lead.

Antonio Lopez beat Keith Gillespie down the left and floated a cross towards the back of the area and Barcelona star Xavi met the ball with a tremendous volley which left Taylor with little chance.

Northern Ireland refused to let their heads drop though and within six minutes they were level.

Lafferty flicked a long free kick into the Spanish area, but Liverpool's Xabi Alonso inexplicably tried to head the ball back to his keeper Iker Casillas and all he did manage was to find Healy who flicked home his 21st international goal.

Spain, who brought on Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas for David Albelda, pushed forward but they struggled to find a way through as the Northern Irish defended in numbers.

Indeed Lafferty could and should have sent his side into the interval ahead as he met a long Steve Davis through ball - but Casillas had come racing off his line and a goalbound effort from the Burnley youngster would have resulted in a goal.

In turn Fernando Torres missed a great chance to put Spain ahead as they broke quickly but he fired over from just eight yards.

The home side started the second half brightly and Gillespie fizzed an effort just wide of the post - but they could not hang on and ten minutes in Spain recaptured the lead.

Sanchez's men failed to clear and Xavi latched onto the ball on the edge of the box before flicking it into the path of Villa who finished with great aplomb over the advancing Taylor.

Again the Northern Irish failed to bow to their more illustrious opponents and amazingly they worked another equaliser.

Spain conceded a needless free kick on their left and the defence was caught napping as Sammy Clingan spotted Healy's run and he pulled the ball back for the Leeds man and he converted superbly from 12 yards.

The Spanish were stunned and they continued to toil in midfield, with Cesc and especially Xabi Alonso being wasteful - although their colleague Xavi was continuing in majestic fashion and he sent Raul clear on 74 minutes but the Spain captain could only poke the ball onto the post when he should have beaten Taylor.

Still Sanchez's men were not finished and Davis fired one at Casillas as if to tell them they were not done, but Spain did not take heed as Windsor Park erupted as Northern Ireland did the unthinkable and took the lead.

Taylor launched a long ball down field, Michel Salgado mis-read the bounce and Healy latched onto it and he produced a world-class finish as he lobbed the ball over Casillas to claim his hat-trick, his first in international football and the first claimed by a home player in Belfast since 1971.