Summary

  • Listen to commentary on BBC Radio Ulster

  • Jamie Ward fires in after just 90 seconds, Washington adds second

  • NI go second in Group C

  • England beat Lithuania with Defoe and Vardy goals

  • England five points clear at top of Group F

  1. Goodbye!published at 22:15 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern IrelandImage source, PA

    That's a wrap from us. So we had wins for Northern Ireland, Scotland AND England today. A clean sweep! Go and party. 

    Thanks for joining us today - cheerio!

  2. 'Win sets us up nicely for Azerbaijan'published at 22:10 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Steven DavisImage source, Reuters

    Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis: "We couldn't have asked to get off to a better start and then it was a professional performance.

    "It was difficult in the second half between pushing on and sitting back, but we did it well. It was really good performance in the first half and we saw it though in the second.

    "Time will tell about the importance of this win. We know we have to be consistent and win our home games. This win sets up nicely for the trip to Azerbaijan in June.

  3. 'We can reach World Cup 'published at 22:07 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Northern IrelandImage source, PA

    Northern Ireland's victory puts them in a great position to secure the runners-up spot in Group C and a play-off to reach the 2018 World Cup, says manager Michael O'Neill. 

    The nation has not reached the World Cup finals since 1986.

    "With 10 points we know a win at Azerbaijan will put us six points clear of them and now we're seven points clear of Norway. So we're looking at the Czech Republic and they are looking at us," he tells Sky Sports.

    "We believe we can reach the World Cup. We have a great home record and the only team to score against us in the group are the world champions. "

  4. O'Neill praises energetic forwardspublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Northern IrelandImage source, Getty Images

    Goalscoring forwards Jamie Ward and Conor Washington drew plenty of praise from Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill.

    "Both lads give you that energy at top end of the pitch," he tells Sky Sports.

    "Conor goes to look for the ball and fight for the ball and Jamie does the same. When you have that energy the rest of the team follows on. 

    "We spoke about using their movement to get between their two centre backs which we felt was their weakness."

  5. 'I couldn't have asked for more'published at 21:57 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill : "I'm delighted. It was a fantastic performance from all 14 players who played tonight and I couldn't have asked for any more.

    "Norway played very directly, so we had to deal with a lot. We had a few bumps and bruises, but we fought and competed very well."

    On key defender Gareth McAuley battling through injury to play the full game: "We didn't want to bring him off because we would have had to change the system. He is a warrior."

  6. Postpublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    In the first half Northern Ireland had a lot of time on the ball. In the second half we basically did what Norway did in the first half so it was disappointing. It was important we came away with the three points and thankfully we did that.

  7. Postpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Alvin McCaig
    BBC Sport at Windsor Park

    Not quite as good from Northern Ireland in the second half but you feel they could up the tempo if required. 

    Michael O'Neill's team have only suffered only defeat (in a friendly against Croatia) in their last 11 home internationals. 

    Some of the credit must go to the fans, truly a 12th man and again they are creating a wall of sound inside Windsor Park.

  8. Postpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Victory means Northern Ireland have now lost just one of the past 11 qualifying matches. 

    Their last loss in a home competitive fixture was a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Portugal in a World Cup qualifier in September 2013.  

  9. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Scotland 1-0 Slovenia

    HUGE. Scotland ease the pressure on gaffer Gordon Strachan by ending a run of four straight wins.

    Go here for all the reaction

  10. Postpublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Northern IrelandImage source, PA

    Another win, another clean sheet and a tremendous first half performance. The second half was totally forgettable. They didn't need to make it look so scrappy and they're a better team than that. They should have put Norway to the sword. We're setting high standards for Northern Ireland but they deserve that. The first half was outstanding and I'm not sure what happened after that, it was a bit of a letdown. 

  11. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:38 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    All over! An excellent win for Northern Ireland as goals from Jamie Ward and Conor Washington lift them back up to second in Group C.

  12. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90+2 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Meandering to a comfortable home win at Windsor. Seconds left...

  13. goal

    GOAL - Scotland 1-0 Sloveniapublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 26 March 2017

    Chris Martin

    A job-saving goal? Gordon Strachan's celebration suggest so. Scotland lead their "must-win" game through Chris Martin's low strike. Serious questions need to be asked about the goalkeeping though...

    Follow the closing stages of that game here.

  14. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90+1 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Into stoppage time. Three minutes to go.

    Kyle Lafferty marks it by dragging a Norway player into a row. Good time-wasting tactic that.

  15. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    A Norway goal will set up a barnstorming finale. Not that we want one. Jorgen Skjelvik swings in a cross from the left touchline, over the heads of his team-mates. A collective sigh of relief from those of a Northern Ireland persuasion. 

  16. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    The home fans have found their voice again as they sing their team towards the finish line.

  17. Postpublished at 86 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    The fourth official is the busiest man in Windsor Park at the moment. Him or the PA man. 

    Northern Ireland make their third and final substitution as Rochdale midfielder Matthew Lund is handed his competitive debut. Leeds United winger Stuart Dallas is the man given a breather. 

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 85 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Another change for Northern Ireland. Kyle Lafferty comes on as Conor Washington walks off to a hero's reception. A decent shift.

  19. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Windsor Park is a little quieter as the clock ticks down. A spot of nervousness perhaps? Mohamed Elyounoussi swings in a cross from the right that cannot be cleared by a home defender. But Havard Nordtveit and Adama Diomande get themselves in a muddle and Northern Ireland clear.

  20. Postpublished at 81 mins

    Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

    Niall McGinn jogs on clutching a piece of paper which goes into the hand of Steven Davis. I doubt it is a shopping list. 

    Davis has a good study, screws up the paper and wonders what to do with it. Sensibly he doesn't eat it.