Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Windsor Park, as Northern Ireland host Israel in the World Cup qualifiers.

There is no snow stopping us now, the pitch has been given the all-clear, and Belfast is about to finally witness some international action after a frustrating past week.

However, they are about to meet what is a very decent Israel side. The away side are five points clear of Northern Ireland in second, although they have played a game more. They sit four points behind group leaders Russia, who also have a game in-hand, but they go into the game having come moments from beating Portugal.

Israel have won two, drawn two and lost one of their opening five matches in Group F, having scored 13 goals and conceded just eight.

Northern Ireland, who sit fourth in a six-team group, have drawn three times, lost once but are yet to win. They have found the back of the net three times and let in five.

Michael O'Neill is still awaiting his first win in charge of Northern Ireland since taking over 15 months ago.

Elsewhere in the group today, Portugal have already recorded a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan, which has temporarily bumped Israel down to third.

Right, less than half an hour to go, who wants team news? Okay here you go.

NORTHERN IRELAND XI: Carroll, Lafferty, McAuley, Evans, Clingan, Davis, Paterson, Brunt, McGinn, Ferguson, Hughes.

In case you are wondering, Fulham midfielder Chris Baird misses out for Northern Ireland tonight due to suspension.

ISRAEL XI: Aouate, Shpungin, Ben Haim, Tibi, Gershon, Radi, Natcho, Melicsohn, Yeiny, Shechter, Ben Basat.

One piece of good news for Northern Ireland is that Israel are without Mallorca striker Tomer Hemed, who has scored seven goals in his last seven internationals. Yossi Benayoun is also missing for the visitors.

Northern Ireland manager, Michael O'Neill: "We know the significance of three points but know how difficult it will be to get them.
"They have scored a lot of goals in the group - particularly in the games against Luxembourg.
"They are a good side and have players dotted around Europe as well as having a strong domestic league. It will be a tough test for us."

On the bench, Northern Ireland boast all-time top-scorer David Healy, while Benayoun is among the Israeli substitutes.

The teams are preparing to come out at Windsor Park.

Just heard that Israel have lost their thermals that they spent £500 on from a local Belfast sports shop. That might explain our wait for them.

And at last, here they are. Saying that, the wind chill is -7 degrees Celsius out there.

We're now preparing for the national anthems. First up, Israel.

And now for Northern Ireland.

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We're just moments away now.

It's a bit late, but we're about to get underway.

And Northern Ireland get us underway.

The hosts are wearing green shirts, white shorts and green socks, and are playing from left to right in this first half.

Israel are sporting blue from top to toe with white trim, and they are playing from right to left.

Chris Brunt has a free kick chance from the wide right, but his floated ball is easily caught by the onrushing Aouate.

Israel hit Northern Ireland on the break down the right, but McAuley is there to put the ball behind for a corner.

OFF THE POST! Good start from Israel and they come a whisker away from taking the lead through Swansea City striker Itay Shecter. The corner is worked out to the right and when the cross is fizzed back in, Shecter is at the near post, but his effort comes back off the upright.

The hosts have had some early possession but have not done anything with it. Israel look sharp on the break, and it isn't hard to understand how they found the back of the net three times against Portugal last week.

It may be cold, but the home fans are in fine voice inside Windsor Park tonight.

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No frosty receptions here........I'm here all week.

The weather is having an impact though so far with there being a strong wind present. The ball is being held up in Israel's favour when knocked long.

SCORE UPDATE Republic of Ireland 0-1 Austria. Balotelli has just scored for Italy as well against Malta by the way.

Northern Ireland being asked a lot of questions in the opening stages here, but so far so good from the defence. Jonny Evans looks solid.

Half a chance for Northern Ireland as Lafferty rampages down the left, taking on the full-back before swing in a cross towards Martin Paterson. But Israel can clear.

Another good bit of play from the hosts, this time it's Nial McGinn who races down the flank before curling a nice ball towards the far post from the right.

It's gone a bit quiet...

So nearly a chance for the home side when Southampton's Steven Davis gently places a lovely pass from the middle to the right of the penalty area. Paterson runs onto it but has too many Israel defenders to deal with, and the visitors scramble it away. That's more like it from the hosts.

SCORE UPDATE Montenegro 0-1 England (Wayne Rooney)

Northern Ireland are having a decent spell at the moment. Starting to retain possession well and starting to ask questions of the Israeli defence.

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SCORE UPDATE Wales 1-0 Croatia (Gareth Bale); Republic of Ireland 1-1 Austria (Jonathan Walters)

A piece of information for you, whether or not you find it useful is up to you, but the Toulouse owner has flown over in his private jet to watch his and Israel striker Ben Basat tonight.

Just as we talk about him, Ben Basat slices through the back of Martin Paterson. He is lucky not receive a yellow card. Free kick on the right for the hosts.

CHANCE! Northern Ireland cause real trouble in the Israel box following Chris Brunt's free kick. His floated effort causes havoc in the box as Jonny Evans provides not one but two ball across the box, but the away side can just hook it away.

Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly be grimacing when he sees this, as Jonny Evans wins the ball comfortably ahead of Ben Basat in his own penalty area before being absolutely clattered. Free kick given but no card, this Estonian referee looks lenient.

CHANCE! All Northern Ireland at the moment. Chris Brunt picks up the ball on the left from 30 yards, and he has a low drive towards the bottom corner of the goal. Martin Paterson gets a little touch to help it on, but the ball ends up just wide of the post. Brunt is looking very lethal when playing through the middle.

CHANCE! I say chance, but Northern Ireland have four goals at Israel here. They are so unlucky. Martin Paterson keeps the ball in play at death before playing the ball across the face of goal. Davis meets it on the edge of the six-yard box but his shot is brilliantly saved, then Lafferty's header is cleared off the lines, Brunt has a go which is blocked before laying the ball off to Aaron Hughes who watches his shot get scrambled away. How they haven't taken the lead there, I will never know. Brilliant passage of play.

YELLOW CARD Jonny Evans is rather harshly booked by the referee for bringing down his man. A bit inconsistent given the fact that the referee chose not to award two Israel players with a card for worse challenges earlier.

The free kick is a waste, and Roy Carroll has a goal kick for the hosts.

CHANCE! Great run from the right by Lafferty as he makes his way into the middle before laying off Clingan, whose effort flies over the bar.

CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as McGinn fires a ball into the box which again creates panic in the Israel penalty area. It's cleared away though.

SCORE UPDATE Republic of Ireland 2-1 Austria (Jonathan Walters)

Northern Ireland certainly not playing like a team without a win in 12 matches. They arguably deserve to be in front and have had the better chances.

Israel started the match the stronger and looked dangerous when Shecter hit the post early on, but since then the hosts have grown into the match and have taken control.

However, it remains goalless at Windsor Park.

The teams are back out at Windsor Park.

Israel get the second half started.

No early action to report in the second half as of yet.

Northern Ireland have the wind with them in this half...

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SCORE UPDATE Serbia 2-0 Scotland

CHANCE! Northern Ireland are caught napping at the back, as Israel find their way down the right after some scrappy play. Shecter plays the ball across the box to Ben Basat, but the latter's shot is straight at Roy Carroll, who pushes the ball away.

Two recent penalty appeals here. The first went a little unnoticed, but Jonny Evans was tugged down during a Northern Ireland corner, before just moments ago Paterson went down in the box under a challenge from Ben Haim. The second incident would have been very soft.

CHANCE! Brilliant breakaway from Northern Ireland and Niall McGinn. The cross from Chris Brunt is cleared away but only as far as Steven Davis, whose shot is just fractions wide of the top right corner.

CHANCE! Northern Ireland are well on top, this time Lafferty tries a shot from the left of the box. His shot is decent but is just dragged wide of the near post.

ISRAEL SUBSTITUTION: Maharan Radi makes way for Eran Zahavi.

No real chances in the last few minutes. Northern Ireland are playing well. Yossi Benayoun warming up for the away side.

CHANCE! Zahavi tamely shoots from the edge of the box, but it is easily saved by Carroll.

Massive cries from Northern Ireland for a penalty. Martin Paterson races in as Aouate and Gershon hesitate about who takes the ball. Paterson gets there first and goes down under a challenge from the goalkeeper, but the referee is having none of it.

ISRAEL SUBSTITUTION: Maor Melikson is coming off with Lion Refaelov coming on.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SUBSTITUTION: Shane Ferguson is replaced by Josh Magennis.

CHANCE! Great ball in from Lafferty from the left of the field, and with danger lurking, Ben Haim is forced to get a vital touch with his head to clear the trouble away.

It's a bitter blow for Northern Ireland, but if you do not take your chances then this is what happens. It's a lovely move from the Israelis as well, with a nice one-touch moving eventually ending up with Refaelov who smashes the ball across Carroll into the far corner.

NORTHERN IRELAND SUBSTITUTION: Paddy McCourt is brought on for the hosts with Sammy Clingan going off.

SCORE UPDATE Wales 1-1 Croatia

Frustrating times for Northern Ireland, as Israel just continue to keep the ball.

NORTHERN IRELAND SUBSTITUTION: David Healy wins his 95th cap as he comes on in place of Martin Paterson.

And that is surely that for Northern Ireland and their World Cup dreams as Ben Basat rifles home an emphatic finish into the top corner, after brilliant play down the flanks by Shecter.

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ISRAEL SUBSTITUTION Itay Shecter is coming off, with Yossi Benayoun coming on.

SCORE UPDATE Wales 1-2 Croatia, Montenegro 1-1 England, Republic of Ireland 2-2 Austria

Three minutes of added time will be played here.

The game has been over since the second goal. It is pretty much silent at Windsor Park.

CHANCE! David Healy has a decent curler on the spin test Aouate, but the keeper pulls off the save.

YELLOW CARD! Chris Brunt misses the next qualifier after a poor late challenge on Benayoun.

So that's it. After dictating much of the game, Northern Ireland slump to a disappointing defeat to a clinical Israel. The hosts had much of the early chances and should have gone into half time with the lead. However, Israel took their opportunities at the end of the match to all but end Northern Ireland's hopes of a place in Brazil next summer.

Well that is all from me tonight. Thanks for joining, I hope you enjoyed the action. Take it easy, goodnight.