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Watch: Northern Ireland outclass Slovakia at Windsor Park
The moment Trai Hume’s lofted effort made its way into the unguarded net, Windsor Park erupted.
A wave of unbridled joy, tinged with relief, swept through south Belfast as the stadium reverberated with noise.
Hume’s goal, scored in the stadium where he honed his skills for Linfield before his move to Sunderland, sealed a 2-0 victory and secured a crucial three points for Northern Ireland in their quest to reach their first World Cup in 40 years.
Defeat would have significantly diminished their chances of automatic qualification.
Now, defying expectations, they are joint-top of Group A with six points after three matches, level with Germany and Slovakia.
“Was this the best [performance] since Michael O’Neill returned?” questioned BBC Sport NI pundit David Healy, Northern Ireland’s all-time leading scorer.
“One might even ask, was it the best full 90 minutes of his 99-game tenure?
“That was the level of performance tonight. In truth, 2-0 flattered Slovakia.”
Gerry Armstrong, a hero of the 1982 World Cup, echoed this sentiment, stating it was “as good a performance I have seen in the last 10-15 years here”.
“They exude experience beyond their years, playing with confidence and belief in each other, which is what I admire most,” Armstrong added.
“They possess passion and a desire to take the pitch and compete.”
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O’Neill expressed his admiration for his young side’s performance, acknowledging their superb start to the qualifying campaign.
A victory in Luxembourg preceded a strong showing against European powerhouse Germany, who ultimately secured a 3-1 win.
Friday’s win was dominant from start to finish. A Patrik Hrosovsky own goal broke the deadlock before Hume’s decisive strike with under 10 minutes remaining. But was it the finest display under O’Neill?
“I don’t really assess games in that manner because teams evolve,” O’Neill stated when asked if it was the most complete performance since his return in 2023 for a second stint in charge.
The Germany fixture will mark his 100th game as Northern Ireland manager.
“The team upon my return is vastly different from the current squad,” O’Neill remarked. “They have delivered other strong performances, such as the home match against Bulgaria when we were excellent.”
“Given the higher calibre of opponent tonight, one could argue it is among our best performances. However, I believe there is still more potential to unlock, a sentiment shared by the players.”
O’Neill also lauded Hume, who has progressed through the leagues with Sunderland and is now a regular in the Premier League.
The defender’s goal came after David Strelec narrowly missed a chance for Slovakia. Hume’s strike reversed the narrative, preventing the sense of inevitable opposition comeback that has plagued the team in the past.
“We deserved to be ahead by more than one goal given the flow of the game, but that second goal was crucial,” said O’Neill.
“Slovakia are a strong team with considerable international experience, and a single moment can change everything.
“They had that opportunity and missed. A young team can lose confidence and momentum in such situations, but the second goal, a fantastic finish, was significant for both the team and Hume, who is a vital player for us.”
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With three teams tied at the top of Group A, the remainder of the campaign becomes a battle for the automatic qualification spot.
Germany, who comfortably defeated Luxembourg 4-0 on Friday, remain favourites to win the group.
In November, Northern Ireland will travel to Slovakia and host Luxembourg in their final qualifier.
With much football still to be played, O’Neill acknowledged the win as a “huge result in the context of the group.”
“We now face a massive game at home against Germany,” he said.
“All three teams have six points, and with two home games remaining, we may have a slight advantage.
“We must replicate tonight’s performance and carry it into Monday’s game against a very, very good team.”
Any visit from a major nation to Windsor Park is a significant occasion.
But with World Cup aspirations on the line, the memory of Julian Nagelsmann’s September comments regarding NI’s playing style, and O’Neill’s managerial milestone, the upcoming match feels even more momentous.