WELL THEY WERE due one of those big wins at Windsor Park.
Martin Paterson dealt a major blow to Russia’s World Cup qualification hopes with the only goal in a 1-0 win for Northern Ireland in Belfast tonight.
In a match twice postponed earlier in the year due to snow, Russia were hoping to go back to the top of European zone Group F but they hadn’t accounted for a plucky Northern Irish display. It leaves Fabio Capello’s team still two points adrift of group leaders Portugal, albeit with a game in hand.
But a second straight group defeat for the Russians, following a 1-0 reverse in Lisbon, has dramatically changed the complexion of the group, giving Portugal hope they can now top it just a couple of games after trailing Russia having played two games more.
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