Match ends, Northern Ireland 2, Czech Republic 0.
Northern Ireland secured second place in Group C and took a huge step towards a World Cup play-off place by beating the Czech Republic at Windsor Park.
Defender Jonny Evans headed the hosts in front before his West Bromwich Albion team-mate Chris Brunt fired in a superb free-kick before the interval.
Northern Ireland, who have now won five matches in a row for the first time, still have to face Germany and Norway.
Eight of the nine European group runners-up will make the play-offs.
Germany in charge of Group C
Leaders Germany look almost certain to top Group C after hammering Norway 6-0, and their goal difference means they could only surrender top spot if they lose their last two games to Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.
Michael O'Neill's side are five points behind the world champions but in a good position to progress to the November play-offs.
This victory could also prove crucial in maintaining a high position in the October Fifa rankings, which will decide the four highest-ranked second-placed teams who will be kept apart in the play-off draw.
Northern Ireland are aiming to reach their first World Cup finals since 1986 and compete in successive major tournaments for the first time in their history.
Euro 2016 appearance no fluke
O'Neill's men are well on the way to proving their appearance at the Euro 2016 finals in France was no fluke but represented a genuine sustained upturn in their fortunes.
The last three World Cup qualifying meetings between these sides failed to yield a goal, including a 0-0 draw in Prague in the first match of this campaign.
The Czechs enjoyed the better of the possession in the opening quarter but were unable to fashion any clear cut chances and paid the penalty as a double salvo from Evans and Brunt ensured that the home team made it five qualifying wins in a row.
Evans, the subject of interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester during the summer transfer window, opened the scoring with his second international goal - eight-and-a-half years after his first - in the 28th minute.
Oliver Norwood headed the ball into the area after a corner and with Theodor Gebre Selassie playing Evans onside, the defender beat goalkeeper Tomas Baclik with a backward header.
Evans, more often eulogised as a defensive mainstay, had only made his first competitive appearance of the season against San Marino on Friday, having missed the start of the Premier League season with a hamstring injury.
Brunt made it 2-0 with a stunning 25-yard free-kick which curled round the defensive wall and into the bottom corner, his third international strike and second of the qualifiers.
The left-sided player has more reason than most to hope that his side can qualify for Russia, having missed Euro 2016 with injury.
Two down at the interval, the Czechs were unable to find any inspiration to turn things round in the second half and are now out of contention for World Cup qualification, having not made the finals since 2006.
Northern Ireland retain their proud home record of not having lost a competitive home fixture in Belfast since going down to Portugal in September 2013.
O'Neill's men, who only required a point to clinch second spot, have conceded only two goals in eight matches in this campaign, both away to Germany last year.
No team has scored against the men in green in a home qualifier since Greece were dispatched 3-1 in October 2015 in the match which secured Euro 2016 qualification.
Man of the match - Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland)
What's next
Germany can confirm their automatic qualification by avoiding defeat against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Thursday, 5 October while Michael O'Neill's men wrap up their Group C fixtures away to Norway three days later.
Line-ups
Northern Ireland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McGovern
- 2McLaughlin
- 18Hughes
- 5EvansBooked at 78mins
- 11Brunt
- 16Norwood
- 21MagennisSubstituted forFergusonat 84'minutes
- 8Davis
- 13Evans
- 14DallasSubstituted forLaffertyat 74'minutes
- 9WashingtonSubstituted forHodsonat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Ferguson
- 4Flanagan
- 6Hodson
- 7McGinn
- 10Lafferty
- 12Mannus
- 15Paton
- 17McLaughlin
- 19McCartan
- 20Lafferty
- 22Lund
- 23Carroll
Czech Rep
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Vaclik
- 3KalasBooked at 58mins
- 17Suchy
- 22NovakSubstituted forDockalat 66'minutes
- 4Gebre Selassie
- 8Darida
- 15Soucek
- 18Boril
- 19KrejciSubstituted forKlimentat 55'minutes
- 11Krmencik
- 14JanktoSubstituted forHusbauerat 55'minutesBooked at 75mins
Substitutes
- 2Kaderábek
- 5Hovorka
- 6Luftner
- 7Zmrhal
- 9Dockal
- 10Husbauer
- 12Horava
- 13Kopic
- 16Koubek
- 20Barak
- 21Kliment
- 23Pavlenka
- Referee:
- Daniele Orsato
- Attendance:
- 18,167
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home23%
- Away77%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northern Ireland 2, Czech Republic 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jan Kliment (Czech Republic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jan Boril with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Michal Krmencik (Czech Republic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Theodor Gebre Selassie with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Shane Ferguson replaces Josh Magennis.
Post update
Jan Boril (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Corry Evans (Northern Ireland).
Post update
Foul by Theodor Gebre Selassie (Czech Republic).
Post update
Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Jan Boril.
Post update
Corner, Czech Republic. Conceded by Josh Magennis.
Booking
Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Josef Husbauer (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland).
Booking
Josef Husbauer (Czech Republic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Josef Husbauer (Czech Republic).
Post update
Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Kyle Lafferty replaces Stuart Dallas.
Post update
Corner, Czech Republic. Conceded by Chris Brunt.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Borek Dockal (Czech Republic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Theodor Gebre Selassie.
Comments
Join the conversation
"Would be nice to see a proper team (Switzerland) thrash these weird guys with STUPID accents"
Stop trolling the internet and get to bed. Mummy will be up soon to turn the light out.
Night night muppet.
I think that means a possible top 20 spot in the FIFA Rankings...it wasn't that long ago I wanted us to get back into the top 120!
What a team, look where we've come from 5 years ago, Michael O'Neill's a miracle worker.
How can I expect to do a full week's work after this??
No 'star' players but the epitome of teamwork and hard graft. Coming second in that group is a top achievement!
Good luck in the play-off, unless we end up getting there too and meet you!