Northern Ireland to claim their first point in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying

The Faroe Islands withstood a prolonged period of pressure from Northern Ireland to claim their first point in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group C.

Having lost their four previous group fixtures, the Faroe Islands were grateful for the agility of 40-year-old goalkeeper Jákup Mikkelsen before Christian Lamhauge Holst shocked the visitors on the hour. Kyle Lafferty equalised 14 minutes from time but despite a late onslaught, Northern Ireland had to settle for a draw which leaves them on five points from three matches.

Lafferty, one of two changes to the team which held Italy on Friday, drew the first of two impressive saves from Mikkelsen on 18 minutes with a dipping long-range shot. The Faroe Islands' only first-half effort of note came when Símun Samuelsen shot straight at Maik Taylor, after which Jonny Evans went close twice. Gareth McAuley then headed into the side netting as Northern Ireland finished the half in the ascendancy. The visitors were soon forcing the issue after the restart as well, and Steven Davis's measured pass enabled McGinn to round Mikkelsen only to hit the wrong side of the net.

David Healy, on as a substitute, span on the edge of the area and drew another save from Mikkelsen, before Lafferty resumed his private battle with the keeper, who somehow clawed a powerful header away from the top corner. Northern Ireland were punished on the hour when Stephen Craigan's heavy touch allowed Daniel Udsen to steal in and feed Holst, who turned past Aaron Hughes and beat Taylor.

Cue a period of sustained Northern Ireland pressure which paid off 14 minutes from time, Lafferty traversing across the face of the penalty area before his low shot went in off Mikkelsen's left-hand upright. Northern Ireland were unable to force a winner, though, and resume their campaign in Serbia on 25 March while the Faroe Islands do not play again until Slovenia and Estonia visit in June.

The visitors ended their ten-match wait for a win in their Group C opener thanks to a goal from substitute Corry Evans in Maribor.

Northern Ireland shocked Slovenia in their opening Group C fixture in Maribor as substitute Corry Evans' 70th-minute strike earned the visitors an unlikely victory.

The 20-year-old from Manchester United FC found the net just three minutes after taking the pitch to register his first international goal and claim all three points for a Northern Irish side who had arrived in Maribor winless in ten matches and without a goal in their seven previous outings.

There was little inkling of the eventual upset in the first half when Slovenia, victorious in five out of six home fixtures en route to qualifying for this summer's FIFA World Cup, spurned several decent chances. Valter Birsa looked poised to score in the 21st minute when Zlatan Ljubijankič's low ball into the box deflected his way off Craig Cathcart but the defender recovered well to divert the shot over the crossbar. Milivoje Novakovič then directed a free header straight at Maik Taylor before, with half-time looming, Andraž Kirm flashed a ball across goal after breaking clear on the right.

Nigel Worthington's men remained under pressure after the restart as Birsa had an excellent opportunity in the 48th minute but his left-foot effort at the far post deflected behind off a green shirt. With 20 minutes remaining, however, the visitors struck as Cathcart cut in from the left and delivered a superb low cross that Evans, arriving at the far post in front of his marker, turned in. There was still time for several Slovenian near-misses, Taylor saving low from Josip Iličič, but when Tim Matavž turned over a last-gasp volley at full stretch, it confirmed it was Northern Ireland's night.