Interview: IFA chief executive Howard Wells

Interview: David Healey

By Lyle Jackson BBC Sport at Windsor Park

Lawrie Sanchez salutes the Kop end after the win over Spain

Another magical Wednesday night at Windsor Park.

A year since David Healy's memorable strike humbled Sven-Goran Eriksson's England, classy Spain were beaten in a stunning, thrilling match.

And all this just four days after that miserable 3-0 defeat at home to Iceland in the opening Euro 2008 qualifier.

Northern Ireland defied the odds, defied their critics, defied logic.

One thing you could have predicted, though, was the response from the fans.

Despite the huge disappointment of the Icelandic defeat, they welcomed Healy and co. like heroes.

And they sang their hearts out from start to finish.

The old Kop end, or West stand, was a sea of green and the sound was amazing.

When the final whistle sounded, Lawrie Sanchez looked stunned.

It was an emotional night for him having taken it in the neck from the local hacks after Saturday's deflating outcome.

The supporters backed him throughout the match with 'Lawrie, Lawrie give us a wave'.

He went straight to them after the match, pushing aside a radio interviewer, to pay his personal tribute to the green and white army.

Lawrie bowed to his adoring public, then took off his tie and jacket and threw them, Jose Mourinho-style, into the stand.

'Let's all do the bouncy', and 'We're Not Brazil, We're Northern Ireland' rang out from the jubilant masses.

Windsor can only hold 14,500 these days. But it sounded like 10 times that number.

The victory over England was commemorated with a special DVD.

This epic will be every bit as special to the Northern Ireland fans.

A true five-goal thriller, brilliant drama, and the first Northern Ireland hat-trick in Belfast since George Best did it 35 years ago.

Maybe the lows make nights like these so special. They do not come along that often, and two in a year is spoiling us.