Are you watching, Dennis Wise? The happy singing in Belfast could be heard all the way over in Sweden as Leeds United's David Healy scored another two goals for his country and inflicted a first defeat on the former
Group F leaders.

The new leaders are Northern Ireland and the star of the evening, outshining international superstars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Freddie Ljungberg, was Healy. And the chants from the crowd were inspired by the fact that in spite of the striker's fine international form, he has been languishing on the Leeds subs' bench recently.

“We fell into their game," said Swedish skipper Ljungberg -- and that became his side's undoing when Northern Ireland’s direct style proved hard to counter. Sweden may have been tactically superior and the team with the bigger stars, but their performance was patchy. The 4-1-3-2 formation never achieved its usual fluency and the Swedes struggled more than the Irish with the bounce of the pitch.

The Windsor Park crowd were the most frantic presence, singing and booing with the same fervour. A 25-yard Ibrahimovic free-kick, which went just wide, was Sweden’s best chance before an attacking spell which yielded the opening goal for Johan Elmander. The striker cleverly kept Aaron Hughes away before turning and firing the ball past Maik Taylor.

Northern Ireland and their fans did not have to be subdued and behind for long, however -- the equaliser coming just four minutes later. A cross from Damien Johnson was  jumped at by Olof Mellberg and Petter Hansson – the effect of the confusion being that the ball ended up with Healy. The glaring defensive error, however, should not detract from the Northern Ireland striker’s supreme 18-yard finish.

On 58 minutes the Swedish defence were again punished for failing to control Healy, who found himself unmarked and flicked the ball past advancing keeper Andreas Isaksson. It was his 29th goal in 56 international appearances.

Stephen Craigan nearly helped Sweden equalise when his attempt to clear a sharp cross from Elmander hit the post. And while Ljungberg and Elmander both missed good chances, Inter star Ibrahimovic continued to make little impression on the game.

Healy nearly completed another hat-trick when Majstorovic failed to clear properly -- only this time he fired into the arms of Isaksson. The Leeds striker will certainly have given his club manager Wise something to think about, just as the Swedish manager Lars Lagerbeck will have to fathom out how the eagerly-anticipated return of Ibrahimovic coincided with their first defeat of the campaign.

Can Northern Ireland keep up the pace and qualify? We want your views at Sportingo.