Elliott rescues North but troubles deepen

Northern Ireland 2 - Austria 2:  Stuart Elliott came off the bench to secure a point for Northern Ireland in a dramatic World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park last night.

With four minutes of injury-time played, the Hull striker forced the ball home from close range after James Quinn had headed on a cross from Keith Gillespie.

However, a point is hardly good enough for Northern Ireland and with away matches to come against England and Poland they face an uphill battle to claim a play-off spot.

Austria took the lead in the 14th minute when Markus Schopp rounded off a flowing move to score past Roy Carroll in front of the posts.

Christian Mayrleb started the ball rolling by picking up Ivica Vastic and he cut it inside to Schopp, who made no mistake.

However the home side drew level in the 35th minute thanks to a wonderful goal from David Healy, his eighth in 10 games for his country.

Jeff Whitley played a nice ball in and the Preston striker took it on his right foot before flicking it on to his left. Then from 25 yards he flighted the ball over the stranded Alex Manninger.

The Austrians were looking in some disarray after that superb strike from Healy and seemed nothing like the team that had taken the lead.

Tommy Doherty and Damien Johnson were bossing the midfield as Northern Ireland were producing one of their best performances for a long time.

Northern Ireland took the lead on the hour when Colin Murdock scored his first goal for his country on his 25th international appearance.

He got on the end of Johnson's corner to head past Manninger after some appalling marking by Austria to put the home side 2-1 ahead.

Northern Ireland's euphoria last only 60 seconds with Mayrleb squeezing a shot inside Carroll's near post.

Schopp made it 3-2 to Austria in the 72 minute after slack marking by Murdock allowed Mayrleb to set up the opening.

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez rang the changes by bringing on Elliott and Steve Jones for Murdock and Doherty.

Then came that astonishing finish and Northern Ireland's never-say-die spirit has to be admired.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll, Aaron Hughes, Williams, Murdock (Elliott 78), Gillespie, Whitley, Johnson, Doherty, McCartney, Healy, Quinn. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Craigan, Griffin, Smith, Jones, McVeigh. Booked: Doherty, Quinn, Johnson. Goals: Healy 35, Murdock 60, Elliott 90.

AUSTRIA: Manninger, Ibertsberger, Feldhofer, Hiden, Pogatetz, Kiesenebner, Schopp (Sick 83), Kuhbauer, Mayrleb (Kollmann 81), Kirchler, Vastic, Sick. Subs Not Used: Macho, Katzer, Dollinger, Ivanschitz. Booked: Feldhofer, Schopp, Kollmann. Goals: Schopp 14, Mayrleb 61, Schopp 72.

Ref: M Shield (Australia).