Hughes heads away a cross for the host and Dockal - in keeping with the story of the night - puts the follow-up wider than the length of a bus away from goal.
90'
Three additional minutes coming. Not enough time, you'd say, for a comeback - but can the Czechs actually find the back of the net?
88'
Jonny Evans is announced as man of the match over the tannoy as McGovern takes another goal kick. Kalas plays it to Suchy, and then onto Dockal but once more, the move falls apart as it reachs the opposition penalty area.
87'
It will take something to deny Northern Ireland the point here, as yet another Czech move finishes with a shot scuffed wide. It's really not been their night - whilst they perhaps shade the stats overall, it's the clinical matter than the hosts have taken their chances that seperates the pair.
84'
S. Ferguson enters the game and replaces J. Magennis.
A final change for the hosts as Magennis makes way for Ferguson.
83'
Well into the final ten now at Windsor Park and the Green and White Army are in loud form. Northern Ireland are heading to the top two, guarenteed - and most likely a play-off place too to boot.
81'
The hosts earn a corner down the other end, which Brunt curls in - but it doesn't dip enough before the keeper plucks it out of the air.
79'
The visitors can't make anything of that chance except earn a corner - and that once more is spirited away, this time by Lafferty.
78'
J. Evans gets yellow.
...And it shows moments later as Jonny Evans is booked for a clumsy tackle. Free-kick to the Czech Republic.
77'
Once again, the Czech team press down the wings and once again Northern Ireland's back four deals with it. They're starting to get a little lazy though in their efforts.
Minute
Description
75'
J. Hušbauer gets yellow.
Kliment pursues a through ball into the area but in the process hits the shin of Norwood and is booked for his troubles.
74'
K. Lafferty enters the game and replaces S. Dallas.
It's a second change of the night for the hosts as Dallas is replaced by Kyle Lafferty.
72'
The Czech go hunting again - this time through Kliment, pushing it towards the left of the box - but Northern Ireland sweep out for a corner which they then defuse with a counter.
70'
Northern Ireland have a rare second-half chance to add a third - but Hodson is caught offside after floating a few feet in front.
69'
The vistors do earn another corner though, but McGovern is alert to the danger and leaps to collect Husbauer's chip shot from ten yards in front.
68'
Darida gets a shot now, but also puts it out wide to the right. Wasteful from the Czech midfielder.
66'
B. Dočkal enters the game and replaces F. Novák.
The third change for the visitors as Novak is replaced by Dockal.
65'
Another chance is squandered however by the visitors as Selassie can't connect with a lovely cross to the right. The Czech Republic are making their chances - they just can't take them afterwards.
62'
This is a nervy looking NI side right now. Two goals up, they're looking oddly unsure going forward - and their back four is becoming slowly more fragile.
60'
Krmencik puts a shot off-target - but McGovern fails to collect cleanly and the Czech side earn a corner. They can't make anything of it though, and Northern Island escape through a Corry Evans kick downfield.
58'
L. Hodson enters the game and replaces C. Washington.
T. Kalas gets yellow.
At the same time, Washington departs as Northern Ireland's first change - and Hodson takes his place.
It comes to nothing as Evans attones for his tackle and clears out, only for Kalas to knock him to the ground with a trip. A booking for the Czech man.
57'
Jonny Evans sweeps back to try and stop a right flank attach but clatters his man to the ground in a slide tackle. Free kick on the edge of the box to the Czech Republic.
55'
J. Hušbauer enters the game and replaces J. Jankto.
J. Kliment enters the game and replaces L. Krejčí.
Substitution Jakub Jankto Josef Hušbauer
Substitution Ladislav Krejčí Jan Kliment
A double change for the Czech Republic now, as Jankto and Boril make way for Husbauer and Kliment.
53'
Once again, the visitors pepper the wings of the home side but Dallas sweeps back to assist with a hasty counter-attack. It fails but the resulting cross back into the box is dealt with by McGovern.
50'
The Czech Republic push down the left and then the right wings in seperate attacking moves. They look refreshed by the break - but Northern Ireland still feel more clinical. Boril earns a throw, but a cross for Selassie runs well past him.
48'
Free-kick to Northern Ireland, which Davis pokes into the Czech box, but the visitors clean up before Magennis can make himself too much of a threat.
46'
Magennis taps off and we're back underway for the second half as Northern Ireland go hunting a play-off place.
45'
The assistant referee siganls an additional minute of time in the first half.
44'
Four attempts for both sides in this game so far, two on target for Northern Ireland - and both times, they've found the back of the net. It feels like a long way back for the Czech Republic and we're not even at half-time. They look sapped by that second score.
41'
C. Brunt has scored a goal for Northern Ireland!
GOAL! An absolute peach of a free-kick from Brunt! He curls it into the bottom left-corner, getting the lift on it perfectly and beating the dive of keeper Vaclik. 2-0 to Northern Ireland after forty-one minutes.
40'
And on the counter-attack, Northern Ireland earn a free-kick seven or eight yards out from the box after Corry Evans is clattered to the floor by Novak. Brunt to take...
39'
Brunt brings Jankto down on the right side of the Northern Ireland box, but the referee waves play on rather than blow for a foul or penalty. The visitors are unhappy with that.
37'
Magennis comes into possession on the right side, and pushes it back to midfield, who cross to Dallas lurking on the left - only for him to spill it forward. Both teams regroup.
34'
The Czech Republic have regathered here and are moving with a touch more purpose - but Krejci can't hold onto a long ball and stumbles over it as it goes out for a goal kick.
31'
Soucek plays it around in midfield, looking for a way through, and in the end, the visitors waste their chance on a lazy shot that sprays well wide.
29'
It wasn't against the run of play, per se, but that was a crucial goal for Northern Ireland, giving them a mental foothold over the Czech team now. The home crowd are going crazy - as is perhaps to be expected.
28'
J. Evans has scored a goal for Northern Ireland! Assist by O. Norwood.
Assist Oliver Norwood
GOAL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND! That's the break they were looking for! The corner is cleared back to Norwood who lobs it straight back into the box - and Jonny Evans connects with his head to guide it home. 1-0 to the hosts.
27'
Novak beats Magennis to a close header and Northern Ireland have a corner. The sky over Windsor Park is something to marvel at - a fire-streaked beauty of clouds and sunset.
24'
McLaughlin wins the throw deep in his own area and Northern Ireland once again try to press down the right, to little success. The spark they had is still there - but it is flickering at points when the Czech wind hits it.
22'
Boril guides a nice header towards goal from a long cross - but it bounces down rather than over and McGovern deals easily. Down the other end, Dallas botches his through ball into the penalty area and the Czech side defuse it easily.
20'
Both sides content to simply play around the midfield for the moment, before the Czech team press forward down the right, only for Evans and Hughes to shore up in defence.
18'
Another counter-attack from the visitors - who are growing in confidence - only for Krmencik to be hauled back for offside.
16'
Down the other end, Dallas very nearly gets onto the end of a Norwood cross after a left-wing break, but the Czech keeper Vaclik has no problem either in dealing.
14'
The visitors play it around, and even try a shot from the wings through Krmencik - but it's a soft effort and of no real issue to the keeper McGovern.
12'
McLaughlin appears to be OK and takes a throw for the home side as they look to push back into Czech territory, with limited success.
10'
McLaughlin goes sprawling from an accidental elbow during a challenge with Boril, and he hits the ground with a crunch. Medics help him to his feet after a minute - and Northern Ireland take the free-kick to push the ball out of their own half.
9'
Northern Ireland heft it down field with Magennis, but the midfielder puts a touch too much weight behind his pass and it goes out for a goal kick.
7'
Krejci puts a little cut-back cross in as he enters the box for the visitors, only to see it put out for a corner. He can't steer it in with a header either, sending the ball well wide of the left edge.
5'
It's a chipper start from the hosts as they launch a counter downfield, only for Evans's attempted chip shot be deflected by Novak.
3'
Brunt earns a corner for the home side on the left, and whips it into the box, only for Magennis's header to drift right and wide.
1'
Jankto taps it back on the whistle and we are underway at Windsor Park! Northern Ireland immediately press down the right flank and McLaughlin gets a throw that the Czech Republic push back.
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of tonight’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification game from UEFA Group C between Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic. We’re into the final home straight almost for next year’s tournament – after this week, all European counties have just two games left to play – and Michael O’Neill’s side can secure second place, and a vital final qualification spot with a victory at Windsor Park. Can the Green and White Army secure a berth at the biggest footballing event in the world for the first time since 1986? Kick-off is just around the corner.
Sports Personality Coach of the Year in 2015 and recipient of the MBE earlier this year, O’Neill has overseen an upswing in fortunate for the Northern Ireland national team, culminating with their first-ever appearance at the European Championships last summer. Now though, he has his eyes on a greater prize – a chance to mix it with the biggest and best in Russia next summer. Three points against their continental opponents will secure them a top-two finish – with second place sending them into the play-offs to fight for a World Cup place. A draw would do the job too – putting them seven points clear of third place Azerbaijan with just six available after tonight.
Victory for the Czech Republic however will move them within four points of catching the Irish, and with an arguable slam-dunk against San Marino as one of their remaining games (Northern Ireland prevailed 3-0 last week against the minnows), Karel Jarolim will be hopeful that his side can push on towards a potential place in the play-offs too, aiming to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006. They were denied a point by group leaders Germany last week, a late Mats Hummels goal sinking them with seconds to spare – but they will be up for staking a claim tonight in Belfast.
O’Neill has overseen a free-flowing, goal-scoring type of play with his side, but nil-nil draws have been the order of the day on each of the last three competitive meetings between these sides. Leading goal-scorer Kyle Lafferty is out of the side who beat San Marino though – he is replaced tonight by Corry Evans. Team news on the way…
NORTHERN IRELAND (4-4-1-1): McGovern, McLaughlin, Hughes, J Evans, Brunt, Magennis, Davis, C Evans, Norwood, Dallas, Washington
Subs: Paton, Manus, McLaughlin, Carroll, Flanagan, Hodson, McCartan, Ferguson, D Lafferty, Lund, K Lafferty, McGinn
Just the one change for the Czech Republic too - Kopic drops to the bench in favour of Krejci. All of last week's goal-scorers - Magennis, Davis and Darida - remain in the starting line-ups. Five minutes to go as teams line up for the national anthems...
And there goes the whistle! Michael O'Neill said before kick-off that his side wouldn't be playing for a draw - and they have delivered on his promise, with goals from Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt ensuring that this will not be a fourth goalless encounter in a row between these two sides. Can the hosts remain in the driving seat? Half-time at Windsor Park, it's Northern Ireland 2-0 Czech Republic.
And there goes the full-time whistle. Michael O'Neill clenches his fist in celebration and grins, looking as pleased as punch as he salutes the crowd. It may not have been a second forty-five to match their first - looking less sturdy around the back for most of it - but the Czech Republic failure to comvert their chances ultimately means that he and his side leave with three points tonight. Final score at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland 2-0 Czech Republic.
Results elsewhere don't matter tonight - that victory means that Northern Ireland move nine points clear of Azerbaijan with two games to go - and with it, secure that top two finish that could be the gateway to a first World Cup in thirty-two years. They take a month off before final group games now, with Germany and Noway in October - and after that, they will see just who they need to beat in the play-offs to reach the final tournument. O'Neill may be about to rewrite history once more. Thank you for joining us tonight - regular service is resumed next weekend as the international break concludes. Until then, good night and have a good week!
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