Michael O'Neill has lauded his Northern Ireland team's "magnificent" performance after securing a 2-0 victory against Slovakia in their World Cup qualifying match at Windsor Park. The win puts Northern Ireland on equal footing with both Germany and Slovakia in Group A.

An own goal by Patrik Hrosovsky in the 18th minute set the stage for Northern Ireland. Trai Hume then sealed the victory with his first international goal with just nine minutes left on the clock.

O'Neill expressed his satisfaction with the team's display, stating, "It was a great performance. We set a bar for the players and they delivered". He further added, "I think the team was as well prepared as they possibly could have been. We left nothing to chance and we got a great response from the players all week".

Despite creating several opportunities to extend their lead, Northern Ireland had to withstand some tense moments before Hume's late goal secured the win. Jamie Reid had a first-half chance, and Shea Charles also came close to scoring in the second half.

O'Neill had previously emphasized the significance of the match, acknowledging his players were fully aware of what was at stake, especially with the upcoming home game against Germany. Reflecting on the result, O'Neill said, "It's a huge result in the context of the group". He also noted the advantage of having two remaining home games and one away game.

The match saw Northern Ireland playing with notable "hunger and verve". In the first half, Conor Bradley played a key role, driving the team forward with energy and desire. It was Bradley who initiated the move that led to the own goal, finding Ethan Galbraith, whose cross was deflected into the net by Hrosovsky.

While O'Neill stopped short of calling it the best performance since his return to the Northern Ireland job in December 2022, he acknowledged its significance, particularly given the team's strong home form. He had highlighted the importance of securing points at home, stating, "Strong home form provides a solid foundation on which to build upon".

Looking ahead, Northern Ireland faces Germany at home on Monday. O'Neill's side will be without captain Conor Bradley for that match, after he picked up a late yellow card.