GROUP THREE: Northern Ireland 1 Slovenia 0ON-LOAN DUNDEE United striker Warren Feeney sent Belfast into raptures as he grabbed the winner in the 73rd minute in this World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park.
It means Northern Ireland remarkably remain top of Group Three and still in with a shout of making it to South Africa.
After a poor start to their campaign they have suddenly become the team to beat.
Feeney has now taken over the mantle from David Healy and this was his second successive goal after he made the breakthrough against Poland at the weekend.
In the process Northern Ireland have won four successive qualifiers for the first time in their history.
Yet manager Nigel Worthington had to make two changes during the game with Chris Baird and Ryan McGivern coming on for Gareth McAuley and George McCartney.
After their splendid victory against Poland, Northern Ireland found it a struggle in the first half. But that barren spell was soon forgotten thanks to Feeney’s goal.
Slovenia almost took the lead in the 10th minute but goalkeeper Maik Taylor did well to parry Miso Brecko’s close-range effort after he was released inside the area by Bostjan Cesar.
Taylor may be 37 but the Birmingham goalkeeper proved he is as sharp as ever with that block.
Worthington was then forced to make a change six minutes later when McAuley limped off and was replaced by Chris Baird.
Slovenia, who chalked up a 2-0 victory earlier in the campaign, were looking far more assured at this stage than Poland.
Northern Ireland again found themselves on the back foot in the 22nd minute when Andrej Komac swung in a corner, only for skipper Aaron Hughes to stay alert and make the clearance.
They responded in the 30th minute when Healy seized on a half chance, only to spoon his effort over the bar.
Healy snatched at it, perhaps in his desperation to add to his tally of one goal in the campaign.
It has been a poor return for the Sunderland striker after his record 13-goal haul in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
Baird and Healy then both went to ground quickly but Israeli referee Alon Yefet allowed play to continue.
That decision incensed Worthington, who raced out of his technical area to protest. The Northern Ireland manager then made a change at half-time with young Manchester City defender McGivern replacing McCartney.
The home side made a bright start to the second half with Healy whipping in a cross that tested the goalkeeper.
Then in the 56th minute Damien Johnson headed over the bar at the back post following a corner from Grant McCann.
The game was becoming scrappy with neither goalkeeper really being tested.
However, that did not prevent the partisan crowd from giving their side tremendous vocal backing.
Northern Ireland made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute with Feeney finding the target.
The on-loan Dundee United striker glanced a header beyond the goalkeeper after a good build -up involving Sammy Clingan and Johnson to prompt another night of celebrations in the old town.
NORTHERN IRELAND:Taylor, McAuley (Baird, 16), Hughes, Evans, McCartney (McGivern, 45), Johnson, Clingan, McCann, Davis, Healy, Feeney. Subs not used: Mannus, McGinn, Shiels, Ward, Little. Goals: Feeney 73.
SLOVENIA:Handanovic, Mavric, Filekovic, Cesar, Jokic, Kirm (Pecnik, 77), Komac, Koren, Brecko (Mejac, 85), Dedic (Ljubijankic, 63), Novakovic. Subs not used: Seliga, Ilic, Suler, Zlogar.
Referee:Alon Yefet (Israel).
