Hansson is brought down near the corner flag on the left wing and the Faroe Islands are awarded a free-kick. It's sent towards Nattestad by Davidsen but can only find the head of McCullough, who clears the ball away from danger.
90' +1
K. í Bartalsstovu enters the game and replaces P. Justinussen.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
88'
Northern Ireland are putting the Faroe Islands, who are desperately trying to find a late consolation goal, under intense pressure, and the visitors are finding it difficult to find a way out of their own half of the pitch.
86'
Justinussen is brought down by McLaughlin on the left flank and the Faroe Islands are awarded a free-kick. It's whipped into the Northern Ireland penalty area by Olsen but Davis is able to stick a foot out to stop the ball from finding a white shirt.
84'
Edmundsson tries to sprint down the right wing after lovely play by the young substitute Olsen, but there are too many green shirts in front of him and he's eventually dispossessed by Norwood.
83'
J. Magennis enters the game and replaces K. Lafferty.
82'
Northern Ireland seem content to sit back and invite the Faroe Islands forward as they look to defend their two-goal lead as we enter the final stage of the game.
81'
B. Hendriksson enters the game and replaces C. Holst.
80'
Lafferty is pulled back by Nattestad and, as a result, Northern Ireland are awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position 20 yards out. Ward sends the resulting set-piece towards goal but Nielsen is just about able to deal with the shot with a good diving save.
Minute
Description
78'
Edmundsson breaks away for the Faroe Islands and darts through the centre of the Northern Ireland defence before seemingly being brought down just outside of the box, but the referee shakes his head and waves play on.
76'
Good, patient build-up play by Northern Ireland ends with McLaughlin just outside of the Faroe Islands penalty area, but he overhits his attempted pass over to the right wing and it ends up flying out for a throw-in.
75'
A. Hansen enters the game and replaces P. Klettskarð.
74'
A great passage of play from the Faroe Islands ends in a corner for the visitors, which is whipped into the heart of the box by Holst, but Carroll is there to cut out the danger before it is able to meet the head of Klettskard.
72'
The Faroe Islands break forward and Naes is almost able to dart into the Northern Ireland penalty area, but Ferguson is there to dispossess the right-back before firing the ball off him and out of play for a goal-kick.
70'
McCourt introduces himself with a fantastic run through the heart of the Faroe Islands defence, but his cross from the right hand side is slightly overhit and ends up flying out for a goal kick.
68'
The Faroe Islands are enjoying a good spell of possession at the moment but, despite their best efforts, they are finding it impossible to break through the determined Northern Ireland back four.
67'
P. McCourt enters the game and replaces N. McGinn.
66'
Naes darts down the right wing before unleashing a deep cross but it's overhit and ends up clearing the goal by a considerable distance.
64'
After a frantic few moments, the pace of the game has slowed down somewhat as Northern Ireland look to keep the Faroe Islands, who are trying to push forward more than they did in the first half, at bay.
62'
Justinussen seems to be bleeding after receiving a knock to the head, resulting in a short break in play whilst he receives medical attention on the sidelines.
60'
What a miss by McLaughlin! The right-back is presented with the perfect opportunity to make it 3-0 with a simple shot from the edge of the six-yard box but he somehow manages to scuff it wide of the goal.
58'
Northern Ireland break away on a swift counter-attack that finally ends up with Ward just outside of the penalty area, and he decides to fire a low shot that goes just wide of the far post. Great play by the hosts!
56'
L. McCullough enters the game and replaces G. McAuley.
Lafferty breaks into the box and tries to send a lofted ball across the face of the goal from the back post but it fails to find a green shirt and instead goes out for a Faroe Islands throw-in on the right flank.
54'
Norwood plays a lovely one-two with Ward before firing a low shot from just outside of the Faroe Islands penalty area, but his effort is poor and it ends up rolling well wide of the far post.
52'
Norwood sends a lovely cross into the middle of the Faroe Islands penalty area where it finds McLaughlin. He tries to turn and get a shot away but Nattestad slides in and dispossesses him wonderfully before he is able to do so.
50'
The Faroe Islands have come out playing far more positively, but they are still finding it difficult to find their way past the resolute and well-organised Northern Ireland back four.
48'
The Faroe Islands immediately break away on an attack down the right wing through Edmundsson, but his curling cross is too near to Carroll and the veteran goalkeeper is easily able to collect the ball.
46'
And we're underway once again!
45' +1
Great strike by Norwood! The midfielder finds himself in acres of space 25 yards out and decides to fire a rocket of a swerving shot towards goal, which Nielsen is just about able to parry out for a corner.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be one minute of added time.
44'
Hughes darts forward and looks as if he's going to beat Naes, who has slipped over, but the Faroe Islands defender is just about able to stick a foot out whilst on the floor to dispossess the Northern Ireland centre-back before winning his side a throw-in.
42'
After a Northern Ireland attack that fails to result in a chance on goal, the Faroe Islands win back possession and break away on one of their own, but Holst's pass forward is poor and ends up going out of play for a throw-in.
40'
The Faroe Islands string together a few good passes midway inside Northern Ireland's half of the pitch but the attack is brought to an end by Holst, who ends up straying into an offside position.
38'
A Faroe Islands attack fails to result in a chance on goal and Northern Ireland are awarded a goal kick, allowing the crowd a moment or two to applaud Carroll for his earlier save.
36'
Penalty saved by R. Carroll!
S. Ferguson gets yellow.
PENALTY! Edmundsson is brought down just inside the box by a clumsy shirt tug by Ferguson and the Faroe Islands are awarded a penalty completely against the run of play.
SAVE! Benjaminsen's penalty is fantastic but Carroll dives acrobatically to his left before tipping it onto the post with his right hand.
34'
Fantastic header by Lafferty! Again, Ward sprints down the right wing before sending a glorious cross into the penalty area that meets the head of Lafferty, and his effort flies just past the near post and out for a goal-kick.
32'
McGinn picks up the ball on the left flank and tries to dart through the middle of the Faroe Islands midfield and into the box, but Hansson is there to dispossess him before clearing the ball back up the pitch.
30'
Great shot by Davis! Ward volleys a great cross towards Norwood on the edge of the penalty area, and he brings the ball down wonderfully before teeing up Davis, whose shot flies just over the top of the crossbar.
28'
Naes is beaten once again by McGinn, who darts down the left wing before curling a cross into the box that Nielsen is forced to punch away from danger.
26'
Again, Lafferty finds himself in space in the middle of the Faroe Islands penalty area and is able to get a shot away on goal from a McLaughlin cross, but his effort is mishit and it goes high and wide.
24'
What a save by Nielsen! Norwood sends a great cross into the box that meets the head of Lafferty, but the former Manchester City goalkeeper pulls off a world-class one-handed save to deny the Northern Ireland striker his second goal of the game.
22'
Ward pushes forward through the centre of the Faroe Islands midfield before unleashing a fierce long-range shot that only just flies wide of Nielsen's near post.
20'
K. Lafferty has scored a goal for Northern Ireland! Assist by S. Ferguson.
GOAL! Lafferty makes it 2-0! Ferguson chips a wonderful cross towards the edge of the six-yard box where it meets Lafferty, who flicks the ball into the back of the net with a lovely side-footed volley.
19'
McGinn picks up the ball and tees up Norwood, who unleashes a rocket of a shot from the edge of the Faroe Islands penalty area, but it's blocked by the legs of Hansson and cleared away from danger.
18'
Again, Ferguson sends a lovely cross into the heart of the Faroe Islands penalty area that meets the head of Davis, but his effort flies just over the top of the crossbar.
17'
Naes brings down Ferguson and Northern Ireland are awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. It's whipped into the box by Norwood but Nielsen is able to rush out and punch the ball out for a corner.
16'
Good, patient build-up play by the Faroe Islands results in Edmundsson finding himself with the ball at his feet 20 yards out, and he decides to fire a shot from just outside of the penalty area but it rolls well wide of the goal.
15'
J. Næs gets yellow.
14'
Ferguson twists and turns around Naes down the left flank before sending a beautiful cross towards Lafferty, who only misses the ball by a few inches. If he had been able to make any sort of contact with the ball, it would have found its way into the back of the net.
12'
Davis is brought down near the halfway line by the Faroe Islands captain Benjaminsen and Northern Ireland are awarded a free-kick, which they take quickly.
10'
McLaughlin sends a low cross in from the right hand side of the Faroe Islands penalty area that finds Norwood at the near post, but he is unable to knock the ball on to Lafferty and ends up losing possession.
8'
Lafferty and Nattestad wrestle for the ball just inside the Faroe Islands half of the pitch, resulting in a free-kick for the visitors after a high boot from the Northern Ireland striker.
6'
G. McAuley has scored a goal for Northern Ireland! Assist by C. Baird.
After a few moments on the sideline, McAuley is back on the pitch and seemingly free of injury once again.
GOAL! Northern Ireland win themselves a corner and McAuley, who has only just returned to the pitch, fires the ball into the back of the net from the far post after the Faroe Islands were unable to clear the danger. That's exactly the kind of start that Northern Ireland would have wanted.
5'
There's a scramble for the ball in the middle of the Faroe Islands box and McAuley is left in a heap on the floor, resulting in him needing to receive medical attention.
3'
Northern Ireland break away on an impressive attack down the right flank, with Lafferty knocking the ball to Norwood at the back post, but the latter is unable to get a head on the ball.
1'
And we're off! Northern Ireland get us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today's European Championship qualifying game between Northern Ireland and the Faroe Islands. My name is Ben Cullimore and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action from Windsor Park.
Northern Ireland kicked off their qualifying campaign with an impressive 2-1 victory away to Hungary last month, which was made possible thanks to two goals in the last 10 minutes from Niall McGinn and Kyle Lafferty, and they will be looking to continue their winning ways today against the Faroe Islands, who are arguably Group F's underdogs.
Despite going ahead first in the 41st minute, the Faroe Islands were beaten 3-1 by Finland in their last European Championship qualifying game but will be quietly confident about their chances tonight. Two of the four competitive meetings between the two sides have ended in 1-1 draws, although the last game played, back in August 2011, ended in a comfortable 4-0 win for Northern Ireland.
There's just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let's have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening...
Northern Ireland XI (4-1-4-1): Carroll; C. McLaughlin, McAuley, Hughes, Ferguson; Baird; McGinn, Davis, Norwood, Ward; Lafferty.
Faroe Islands substitutes: Sorensen, Gestsson, Baldvinsson, Olsen, i Baralsstovu, A. Hansen, B. Hansen, Thomsen, Mellemgaard, Hanssen, Vatnhamar, Djurhuus.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch with just a few minutes left to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: NORTHERN IRELAND 2-0 FAROE ISLANDS
As expected, Northern Ireland have dominated the first half, with the Faroe Islands spending the majority of the opening 45 minutes on the back foot and under serious pressure. Ferguson and Ward have found plenty of joy down the left flank, whilst the visitors have found the right-side partnership of McLaughlin and McGinn almost impossible to deal with. The hosts could easily have scored four or five goals by now but Nielsen has been incredibly impressive in between the sticks, and, as a result, the Faroe Islands go into the half-time break still with a chance of finding a way back into this game, albeit a very slim one.
The two sides are making their way back out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any changes during the break.
FULL-TIME: NORTHERN IRELAND 2-0 FAROE ISLANDS
As expected, Northern Ireland come away with all three points, and they thoroughly deserve the victory after putting in a fantastic shift from start to finish. Lafferty was fantastic, causing the central defensive duo of Nattestad and Justinussen plenty of problems, whilst the wingers and full-backs dominated the game, with fantastic crosses peppering the Faroe Islands penalty area throughout. The hosts took their foot off the gas in the second period and concentrated on defending, which they did spectacularly, and, as a result, they head into next week's tough clash against Greece with two wins from two games, which is a fantastic position for them to be in.
My name's Ben Cullimore and it's been an absolute pleasure describing the action to you today. Until next time, goodbye!
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