| Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor turned in a man of the match performance as Northern Ireland earned their first competitive away win in six years by beating Malta 1-0 this afternoon. The Ulstermen were playing the last game in their World Cup campaign and ended on a relative high finishing fifth in Group Three with 11 points. They began brightly with Stuart Elliott having a shot blocked and Kevin Horlock lashing a long-range free-kick fractionally over the bar, but the hosts quickly assumed control of the contest. Taylor made light of his lack of first-team football at Craven Cottage with an inspirational display that ensured the green and white army avoided any embarrassment by one of the minnows of world football with a string of superb saves. Northern Ireland held on for a narrow win, although both Sammy McIllory and Jimmy Harvey were sent off – becoming the first managerial double act to be dismissed from the touchline. Austrian referee Manfred Schuttengruber sent off McIlroy for throwing the ball at Maltese striker Michael Mifsud and then banished Harvey for standing outside the technical area. |
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