Northern Ireland have secured their place at Euro 2016 courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Greece in their qualifying clash at Windsor Park.
© Getty Images
The visitors were the first to threaten when Alexandros Tziolis rose highest at the back post from a corner and headed downward towards goal, but Michael McGovern made the stop.
Jamie Ward should have put Michael O'Neill's men ahead in the 18th minute when Oliver Norwood picked him out in the penalty area with a free kick, but he could only put his header wide of the target.
Northern Ireland came close again when Josh Magennis pounced on a loose ball in the box and tried to smash a volley past Orestis Karnezis from close range, but Vangelis Moras made a crucial block to deny the forward's goalbound strike.
The home side got their goal in the 35th minute when Steven Davis capped a team move by slotting the ball into the net from close range after latching on to Stuart Dallas's low cross into the box.
© Getty Images
Greece came within inches of equalising just before the break when Nikolaos Karelis fired at goal from close range but saw his effort blocked, but Kostas Mitroglou collected the ball on the rebound only to see his effort clatter off the post.
Northern Ireland doubled their advantage in the early stages of the second half when Norwood lifted the ball in from the right and Magennis rose highest in the box to loop his header over the defender on the line into the top corner.
Davis notched his second goal to secure the win for Michael O'Neill's men when he guided his header beyond the reach of Karnezis into the net after latching on to a poor clearance in the box.
Greece got a goal back four minutes to play when Christos Aravidis converted from close range, but the home side held out to secure the win to set off jubilant scenes inside Windsor Park.
