Retro Football: Jimmy Quinn Helps Northern Ireland Secure 1986 WC Qualification With Winning Goal Vs. Romania (Video)

Alan Duffy

14th, November 2014

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By Alan Duffy

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Ahead of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 clash with Romania in Bucharest, we thought it the perfect time to relive Jimmy Quinn’s famous goal for the North away in Romania which helped to secure their passage to the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico.

Facing a fine Romanian side which included the great Gheorghe Hagi, Billy Bingham’s boys needed to secure an unlikely win in Bucharest if they were to stand any chance of making it to Mexico. A journeyman striker who played for the likes of Blackburn, West Ham and Swindon, Quinn was the hero of the hour for the Northern Irish, scoring just before the half-hour mark. And despite dominating the rest of the game, Romania couldn’t find a way past Pat Jennings in goal.

That famous win left Northern Ireland needing just a point in their last game away to England to qualify, which they secured courtesy of a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

Let’s hope Michael O’Neill’s men can secure a similar result against the Romanians on Friday night, which would consolidate their great start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Enjoy…

(Video: sp1873)

(Photo: Getty Images)