Healy keeps Irish hopes alive

With one qualifier left against Spain next Wednesday they still have a window of opportunity in Las Palmas.

It is an incredible thought they could reach Austria and Switzerland but with Healy around, anything you feel is possible. Not only did he get a superb winner, he also became the record scorer in a European Championship qualifying campaign.

Healy overtook Davor Suker's 12-goal mark, which was set 12 years ago. No wonder the Northern Ireland fans were singing in the rain, which was so torrential in the afternoon it left the match in doubt.

Denmark, however, almost took the lead in the 13th minute when Dennis Rommedahl was left clear at the back post. But he seemed to be off-balance and skied his effort high and wide to Northern Ireland's relief.

Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring after 51 minutes. The Arsenal striker took advantage of some poor marking to toe-poke the ball home after a long throw from Leon Andreasen.

But Northern Irelanddrew level through Warren Feeney in the 61st minute. The striker got away from his marker to flick a header beyond the goalkeeper following a cross from Chris Brunt and claim his third goal for his country.

Feeney almost put Northern Ireland ahead in the 65th minute with an spectacular half-volley from 35 yards. It beat Denmark Thomas Sorensen but came off the base of the post.

Inevitably it was Healy who gave Northern Ireland the lead 10 minutes from time. And it was one to be proud of as well - an instinctive chip from an acute angle which went over the goalkeeper's head and into the net. It was his 33rd goal in 61 games and Northern Ireland were in dreamland.

Rommedahl almost equalised in the last minute his free-kick coming back off the post then Leon Andreasen hoisted a shot over the bar as the province rode their luck.