Nt IREMBERG. Germany. Nov 10: Northern Ireland frustrated Germany's World Cup qualifying cam piign when they held the European champions to a 1-1 draw in a Group Nine qualifier on Saturday^jrepdHh Reuter.

The GHuanlr*Wfllle now not beat«r northern Ireland In five matches since 1977. had to come back from behind after defender Gerry Taggart gave the visitors in the lead against the run of play with a well-taken goal in the 39th minute.

Midfielder Andy Moeller scored a superb individual effort two minutes later to equalise, but from then on Berti Vogts team failed to find a way through the province’s packed defence

Northern Ireland keeper Tommy Wright, playing nis first international for two yearn, had a superb match. Luck was not on the Germans side at all. Captain Juergen Kilns mann saw a second half header hit both posts before bouncing into Wright s arms.

When I saw that I knew we wouldn t win it." Vogts said The goalkeeper had a great day We had chances but luck was not on our side But you get games like this we are still

optimistic about qualifying for (the finals in) France."

Northern Ireland, who played very defensively, surprised the Germans tactically by playing with a sweeper at the

The European champions put the visitors under intense

ANDREAS MOELLER pressure in the first ball an hour But Wright dived low to stop defender Markus BabbeTs close range header early on and tipped a spectacular long range snot from wing back Ml< hael Tamat over the bar in the 26th

minute.

The Northern Ireland goal came completely against the run of play. German midfielder Thomas Strunz gave the ball away to Taggert on the right hand side of the I mix. The Bolton defender stuck H hard into the left-hand corner with his left foot- ,

The visiting fans Were still celebrating the goal when Moeller equalised with a crisp right-footed strike Into the top right-hand corner.

The Germans piled on the pressure again at the start of the second half. But Wright reacted quickly to stop a Moeller header in the 57th minute

Eight minutes later the Ger mans had their closest chance of the match when a Klinsmann header hit the left-hand post and then bounced across the line to hit the right post before bouncing Into Wright's arms.

Northern Ireland had previ ously taken just one point from their first two qualifiers

But the Germans, who have lost Just one Work! Cup quail fier In their entire history, have struggled against them since they thrashed them 5-0 In Cologne in 1977.

Northern Ireland have now drawn three and won two of I heir last live encounters against the Euro 96 champions