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The second-half substitute was three minutes from the end of the game at Windsor Park after Igor Stasevich's deflected shot in the first half erased Jonny Evans' header three minutes into the match.
Magennis' s fifth international goal could be of paramount importance for Northern Ireland, which had identified its home opener against Estonia and Belarus as a must win, and the following day. ;has already done.
Michael O 'Neill had appointed a team unchanged, hoping to create momentum thanks to the encouraging second-half performance of Thursday's 2-0 win over Estonia, which had allowed the campaign to start perfectly.
Belarus arrived in Belfast after a 4-0 win from the Netherlands on Thursday, and Northern Ireland hoped for an easy take.
But after coach Igor Kruishenko made five changes, including the restoration of Aleksandr Hleb, a 37-year-old midfielder at Arsenal and Barcelona in the backcourt, they would face each other.
After a slow and often disconcerting start, Paddy McNair realized Northern Ireland's first chance after 20 minutes, returning his man and cutting inside before hitting a powerful shot that Andrei Klimovich managed to secure.
Just before the half hour, Kyle Lafferty shot an optimized shot from far but after bouncing awkwardly for Klimovich, Northern Ireland would have paid the corner.
They made it clear, with Steven Davis' corner of Niall McGinn waving for an unmarked Evans to go home.
But the celebrations lasted less than three minutes before the return of Belarus. As Northern Ireland's defenders stood out, Stasevich fired a shot from the edge of the area that deviated from Stuart Dallas to loop and defeat Bailey Peabad-Farrell.
Northern Ireland looked for an answer, but although Dallas's long shot fell on George Saville in the goal area, the angle was tight and the Middlesbrough man shot directly at Klimovich.
Jordan Jones, who had done well to keep a superfluous pbad, then played a dangerous ball, but Lafferty stood upright, feet in the back, whistling on the goal's face, placing him tied at the break .
The flag of the badistant spared Lafferty's blushes four minutes into the second half, when he really should have brought McNair's center back at close range.
McNair was next to try his luck when the ball was launched for him in the 58th minute, but Mikhail Sivakov showed himself strong enough to put the shot away.
Northern Ireland continued to press, forcing Belarus to return further and further.
Lafferty tried a looping shot with his back to the goal, but failed to keep it until Dallas came into the box but made his way towards Lafferty, looking for A corner.
Lafferty missed another opportunity in the 77th minute as Lewis's center seemed to slip in the head with a gaping goal, the Rangers forward guilty of not having attacked the ball.
This would prove his last involvement since he was quickly replaced by Liam Boyce.
O'Neill has also left Shane Ferguson five minutes, while Northern Ireland continues to advance.
They received their reward at three minutes an hour thanks to one of the best shots of the match.
Magennis started by dropping a long ball and driving it off for Dallas, who in turn fed McNair. His low center was perfectly placed to allow Magennis to bring him home with a simple finish.
Belarus responded with a late burst of pressure, forcing Peabad-Farrell to make a tight stoppage against Pavel Nekhaychik, but Northern Ireland hung on to victory to the delight of Windsor Park.
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