The last time the province enjoyed a similar taste of the high life in a major tournament was almost 20 years ago.

Healy has the province in a state of disbelief again thanks to his scoring exploits.

The Leeds striker grabbed both goals to make it nine in the campaign and 29 in 56 international appearances.

Healy gave Sweden a taste of what was to happen after two minutes when he found the side netting following a cross from Damien Johnson.

But it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a swift counter attack.

Niclas Alexandersson knocked the ball back and Johan Elmander turned Aaron Hughes to steer the ball home from close range.

But Northern Ireland roared back and Healy equalised four minutes later and it was a splendid effort as well by the crowd favourite.

There seemed little on but he ghosted between two defenders to send a superb volley over the head of Andreas Isaksson.

The crowd responded by taunting his club boss. They chanted 'Are you watching Dennis Wise', who was an interested spectator at Windsor Park.

Wise decided to attend the game, curious to find out why Healy cannot replicate his international form at Leeds.

It was game on and Sweden looked rattled after that stunning strike which lit up the old stadium.

Northern Ireland were working their socks off with Healy and the recalled Warren Feeney giving the Swedish defenders no time to settle on the ball.

There was a raw edge to the match and it had the feel of a domestic cup game rather than an international fixture. There was a moment of danger for the province in the 53rd minute when Elmander skipped away from Stephen Craigan.

He raced to the byline and whipped in a dangerous cross. However Hughes read the situation well and made the clearance.

Then Grant McCann blocked a header from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the line as the Swedes stepped up the pressure before the hosts stunned them by taking the lead in the 59th minute.

And again it was Healy who did the damage with a cool finish.

The 27-year-old got his second of the game with a smart shot into the corner after Johnson supplied the cross from the right.

Healy, who scored a hat-trick against Liechtenstein at the weekend, wheeled away to take the acclaim.

But there was much to admire about Northern Ireland's play, not just Healy's goals.

They were keeping their shape well and looking dangerous on the break.

However they almost handed Sweden an equaliser in the 68th minute when a wayward clearance by Craigan came back off the post.

Sweden came close to equalising twice in the space of two minutes.

Freddie Ljungberg fired over the top from close range in the 71st minute then Elmander dragged a shot wide.

Warren Feeney had put in a hard shift and was replaced by Kyle Lafferty in the 79th minute.

Sweden continued to press but Northern Ireland held firm to go top of the table against all the odds.

Considering the province lost to Iceland at home in their opening qualifier they have made remarkable and quick strides. And with Healy in this kind of form they can go into the second half of the campaign with optimism.