KYLE LAFFERY MISSED a gilt-edged chance to send Northern Ireland clear of Romania at the top of Group F as the two sides played out an entertaining goalless draw at Windsor Park.
Northern Ireland weathered spells of Romanian pressure before finishing strongly in front of their raucous home fans but Lafferty fired straight at Ciprian Tatarusanu when found unmarked from a set-piece in the dying minutes.
Tatarusanu had earlier denied Jonny Evans’ flying header and was tested for a final time when he tipped a fierce Oliver Norwood free-kick over in the final seconds.
Group F leaders Romania inflicted the only defeat of the qualifying campaign to date on Michael O’Neill’s men when the teams met in Bucharest last November.
But they were unable to extend their advantage over Northern Ireland to four points on Saturday, as strong winds played their part in a disjointed contest at Windsor Park.
The result bolsters Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching a first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup. They sit two points above third-placed Hungary, who they host on the back of a trip to face the Faroe Islands in September.
O’Neill’s side began in confident fashion although, after Lafferty lost his footing inside the Romania box after eight minutes, they were largely restricted to speculative long-range efforts.
A jinking run from visiting winger Gabriel Torje lacked an end product, while Alexandru Chipciu should have done better on the end of Claudiu Keseru’s 33rd-minute throughball when he shot tamely at Michael McGovern.
McGovern was starting his first competitive international after abdominal pain ruled out Roy Carroll, and the Hamilton Academical goalkeeper suffered some discomfort of his own — clattering into the near post when he kept out Keseru’s right-wing corner.
Lafferty saw a clipped 20-yard effort deflected narrowly wide off Dragos Grigore – the Norwich City forward struggling to contain his fury when a goalkick was awarded – before Northern Ireland almost found the breakthrough two minutes before half-time.
A left-wing corner from Chris Brunt skipped across the box for Jonny Evans to head towards the top corner but Tatarusanu saved superbly.
There was another close shave for Romania early in the second period when Stuart Dallas sent a venomous drive wide after Norwood’s free-kick was partially cleared.
Lafferty was unable to keep a 56th-minute header down, while the error-strewn nature of the half continued as Gareth McAuley was dispossessed to leave Torje charging towards goal.
Manchester United defender Evans got back to deflect Torje’s eventual shot fractionally past the post with McGovern beaten.
Norwood skewed a shot wide when he took aim for glory from 20 yards in the 76th minute and Lafferty twice came close to adding his sixth goal of the qualification campaign.
First, he was unable to find the decisive touch when Conor McLaughlin crossed on the end of Norwood’s wonderful crossfield pass before he shot too close to Tatarusanu after McAuley’s knockdown.
Tatarusanu then saved impressively from a swerving Norwood free-kick as Romania held out to remain in top spot.
