Estonia 1-2 Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s men continue perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with fightback win

Estonia 1-2 Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s men continue perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with fightback win
Northern Ireland just about continued their perfect start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win in Estonia thanks to substitute Josh Magennis’ quickfire double.Michael O’Neill’s men found themselves behind when Konstantin Vassiljev curled a free-kick past the wall and beyond Bailey Peacock-Farrell on 25 minutes, but Magennis turned the game around in Tallinn.Getty Images - Getty1

Magennis made an immediate impact and helped his side win the game

Both goals came via the slightest of touches – the first on Conor Washington’s shot and the second enough to divert Jordan Jones’ cross into the net – but both could have a major impact for Northern Ireland.Defeat here would have left their Euro 2020 hopes hanging by a thread with home and away games against Holland and Germany to come later in the year, but victory keeps them top of the group with a maximum haul of nine points ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Belarus.It was a dramatic end to a game which threatened to end in frustration, with O’Neill’s side showing for too long why they came into the night without an away goal in seven outings.Though they bossed possession early on, chances were few and far between and once Vassiljev – their tormentor in a World Cup qualifier eight years ago – had punished a mistake by Stuart Dallas with a low, bending free-kick around the wall, Northern Ireland looked panicked as they gave the ball away.Alan Brazil slams England for playing out from the back against Holland Estonia had the ball in the net again six minutes before the break but it was ruled out by referee Fabio Verissimo, perhaps generously as goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell appeared to run into Rauno Sappinen before Madis Vihmann headed in.At the other end Gavin Whyte, making his first competitive start, sent in a fine cross but Liam Boyce could not get the direction on his glancing header and Estonia ended the half on top, with Vassiljev scuffing a shot wide when left virtually unmarked inside the area.O’Neill sent on Washington for Boyce at half-time to try to find a spark, but Northern Ireland lacked composure and were almost punished as Vassiljev sent a dipping shot on to the crossbar.Northern Ireland soon began to stir and Dallas cut in from the left and picked out George Saville, who poked the ball goalwards to bring a first save of the night from Sergei Lepmets.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Switzerland vs England (Sunday, 2pm) talkSPORT
• England vs Scotland (Sunday, 5pm) talkSPORT
• Portugal vs Netherlands (Sunday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT

Peacock-Farrell had to save low down from Vlasiy Sinyavskiy as Estonia looked to hit their opponents on the counter-attack, but the flow of traffic was now firmly in Northern Ireland’s favour.Lepmets fluffed a clearance to gift the ball to Jones, but scrambled back into position before the Rangers winger floated a cross over.But Northern Ireland got their equaliser in the 77th minute when Washington cut in from the left side and was able to run straight to the centre of the goal before clipping a shot over Lepmets, which diverted off Magennis to find the net.And three minutes later Northern Ireland were ahead as Magennis got a deft touch to Jones’ cross for the ball to trickle over the line. The celebrations were almost cut short by Artjom Dmitrijev, but Peacock-Farrell was at full stretch to push his powerful drive away.There was another late scare as Dimitrijev headed just wide while Jones was close to adding a third at the other end, but Northern Ireland had already done enough.

---

Liverpool team news vs Crystal Palace: Predicted line up - Matip in, right-back decision LIVERPOOL are faced with a defensive injury crisis when they return to Premier League action against
Team news: Confirmed LFC line-up v Crystal Palace - Liverpool FC

---

Confirmed: The Arsenal starting XI to face Crystal Palace - Mesut Ozil starts for the Gunners. The Arsenal team news is in at the Emirates - and there is no Alexis Sanchez
Confirmed Arsenal XI vs Brighton: Lichtsteiner starts as Ozil

---

However, the England midfielder has looked like he is back to his best this season. Former Chelsea attacker Joe Cole who was acting as a pundit for the second leg of Tottenham's Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea for Sky Sports, revealed that Winks was very highly thought of in the England set-up.
Joe Archives - SportsAlert

---

Claude Makelele threatened to put Ronaldinho in hospital if he tried his 'Playstation tricks' near him Written by: fpnews Posted on: March 29, 2019 Claude Makelele was so good he had a position named after him, 'the Makelele role' as it became known following his success with Chelsea.
Claude Makelele threatened to put Ronaldinho in hospital if

---

Rafael Benitez has hit back at criticism surrounding his decision to prioritise Newcastle's survival bid over the FA Cup. A section of the club's fans have condemned the Magpies boss for fielding a weakened line-up when his side were held 1-1 at home by Blackburn in the third round.
Benitez defends his decision to prioritise Premier League

---

Raheem Sterling: Manchester City and England star to cover

---

French DJ Martin Solveig asked Ada Hegerberg — the first female Ballon D'Or winner — to twerk on stage. He laughed as she walked away.
Women's Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg asked if she can

---

Liverpool and Tottenham to face each other in an all-English Champions League final this upcoming Saturday. Find out me, date, time, location and channel plus team stats and more right here.

---

Crystal Palace host Tottenham at Selhurst Park on Saturday night - live on talkSPORT - bidding to upset the odds and get a win. If results go against them, the Eagles can fall to the bottom of the Premier League table by the end of gameweek 12, while Spurs will be hoping to secure a win that could move them into the top three.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha - talkSPORT

---

Marcus Rashford could have joined Manchester City at the age of nine but was lured to join United by Rene Meulensteen. Manchester United 5-1 Midtjylland (agg 6-3): Click here for our report
Marcus Rashford talks reconnecting with England fans - 'We

---

What the Premier League table would look like if only the 2nd half of each game was played. 72 · 96 comments . Agree or disagree: Premier League team of the season
How the Premier League table would look if only away games

---

Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke is weighing up offers from Brighton and Crystal Palace ahead of the January transfer window, with the Merseyside outfit looking set to send the young striker out
Dominic Solanke set to opt for Crystal Palace ahead of

---

Manchester City need a new captain as Vincent Kompany brings to a close 11 memorable years with the club. There is no shortage of internal candidates given the number of players who have worn the
Who will replace Vincent Kompany as Manchester City captain

---