Northern Ireland has won a shock victory against a rampant Slovenia in their opening game of the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Both Slovenia and Northern Ireland made good starts but it was Slovenia that had the first major chance with Milivoje Novakovic knocking a cross from Andraz Kirm towards the Northern Ireland goal keeper.

Steven Davis looked to open the game up for Northern Ireland but found the shot blocked by the Slovenians, only for Chris Baird to attempt to finish off what Davis begun.

Slovenia struck back with Zlatan Ljubijankic crossing the ball to Valter Birsa who was inches away from smashing the ball into the Northern Irish net. Novakovic nearly got a goal of his own, this time from a cross from Kirm, however the keeper once again did his part, keeping the score at 0-0 at half time.

With the second half Slovenia resumed where they left off with Kirm again crossing into the area for Novakovic, only to be denied againg by keeper Maik Taylor.

Valter Birsa also made a nerve-wracking attempt, but ended up smashing the ball wide of the goal.

Then out of no-where Craig Cathcart crossed the ball into the Slovenian box, which was then knocked into the goal by substitute Corry Evans, putting Northern Ireland 1-0 up.

A stunned Slovenia however would not be put down and continued hammering away at Northern Ireland but in the end found all their efforts to be fruitless, giving Northern Ireland a victory with which to began their Euro 2012 campaign.