Northern Ireland 2 Norway 0: Jamie Ward and Conor Washington on target to keep Irish second in Group C

NORTHERN IRELAND remain on course in World Cup qualification Group C after an impressive win over Norway.

Michael O’Neill’s team scored twice in the first-half through Jamie Ward and Conor Washington – the side now have 10 points at the half-way point of qualification.

PA:Press Association

Jamie Ward scored after just 87 seconds as Northern Ireland beat Norway 2-0[/caption]

PA:Press Association

Conor Washington scored the second with Northern Ireland second in Group C at the halfway mark[/caption]

Jamie Ward’s goal after 87 seconds set them on their way and QPR’s Conor Washington fired in a third international goal, all of which have come in his three Belfast starts, in the 32nd minute.

O’Neill had stressed the 10-point landmark was key in terms of his squad’s mindset towards possibly reaching Russia and they now head to Azerbaijan in the summer knowing a play-off berth remains on the cards.

O’Neill had warned this would be far from straightforward with Norway now under the guidance of Lars Lagerback – the Swede who had led Iceland past England at Euro 2016.

PA:Press Association

Michael O’Neill’s team have lost just one of their five matches so far[/caption]

Ward’s goal was the perfect start for a home side whose only trouble in those early exchanges came from an injury to Gareth McAuley in an early challenge with Alexander Soderlund.

The home side’s second goal came from an assist from the brilliant Steven Davis as he fed Washington to apply the finish for his third international goal.

It is now on to Baku for a team that has continued to show no sign of resting on their laurels after reaching the Euro 2016 knock-out stages.