Nightmare defeat for the North

Northern Ireland's World Cup nightmare continued as Albanian pride swept Bryan Hamilton's men aside and left the Province with a hangover that could now spill over into the European Championships.

Last month's defeat by Germany closed the door to France 98 but boss Hamilton was looking to pip Armenia to fourth place in Group nine to boost their seeding for the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign beginning next season.

But a 69th-minute strike by Altin Haxhi, the 22-year-old midfielder who plays for Greek side Petros, means that the Irish will probably have to win in Portugal next month to have a chance of overhauling Armenia, who play Germany later tonight and then Ukraine and are already a point better off.

It was Albania's first win over Northern Ireland in eight attempts and their first of the qualifying campaign - but it was a victory that was fully deserved.

Forced to play in neutral Switzerland because of continued civil unrest at home, they responded to the noise of the 2,600 fans - part of a substantial Albanian community in Zurich - who roared them on in the Hardturm Stadium. Northern Ireland should have taken the lead when Iain Dowie flicked on Steve Lomas' towering corner only for Keith Gillespie to pull his effort wide from barely 10 yards.

Northern Ireland should have gone ahead on the stroke of half-time when Lomas, captaining the side for the first time, failed to keep a close-range header down.

Hamilton made a positive switch at the break, bringing on Manchester United teenager Philip Mulryne to support Dowie and Quinn up front in place of Keith Rowland.

It was Mulryne's third appearance, but the Irish were soon on the back foot again as Wright twice saved well from the dangerous Kola.

The Irish responded when Gillespie powered down the right and crossed dangerously only for Albanian goalkeeper Foto Strakosha to beat the leaping Lomas to the ball with a flying punch to clear the danger.

But Albania were ahead after 69 minutes when Colin Hill's clearance fell to Haxhi 20 yards out and his precise shot beat Wright and bounced into the next off the keeper's left-hand post.