Trai Hume’s first international goal sealed Northern Ireland’s 2-0 win over Slovakia in a crucial World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park.
With the visitors having won both their opening games in Pool A, Michael O’Neill’s side could ill afford to lose any more ground before Germany’s visit to Belfast on Monday, and they duly joined Slovakia on six points after a goal in each half.
An own goal from Patrik Hrosovsky opened the scoring after 18 minutes before Sunderland defender Hume netted with nine minutes remaining from a fine looping strike.
Northern Ireland started brightly but genuine chances had been limited before a neat exchange of passes between Conor Bradley and Ethan Galbraith sent the Swansea City midfielder charging towards the byeline, with a squared ball deflected into his own net by Hrosovsky.
As the hosts continued to press, Jamie Reid had a golden chance to double the lead 10 minutes before half-time, but the Stevenage forward blasted high and wide on his weaker foot after the ball broke his way six yards from goal.
Slovakia had to wait until the 52nd minute for their first real chance of the game when Middlesbrough forward David Strelec’s cross was headed goalwards by Matus Bero, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell was able to palm the effort away having chased back into his net.
At the other end, Reid had a goal chalked off for offside after he diverted Shea Charles’ curling effort beyond Martin Dubravka, but Slovakia were coming more and more into the game.
Strelec spurned a great chance for an equaliser when he rolled a shot just wide when put through by substitute Tomas Rigo, before Hume’s composed lob over Dubravka from outside the penalty area ensured a key three points for Northern Ireland.
In the night’s other game in Group A, four-time World Cup winners Germany beat 10-man Luxembourg 4-0 in Sinsheim.
Captain Joshua Kimmich scored twice with David Raum and Serge Gnabry also on target against opposition who had Dirk Carlson sent off after 20 minutes.
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