A stoppage-time goal from Tomas Bobcek kept Slovakia’s automatic qualification hopes alive with victory over Northern Ireland.
The first half was a very open affair, with the first real chance of the game coming from the Green and White Army. A free-kick from Justin Devenny was crossed towards Daniel Ballard, whose header was put just wide of the target.
However, the home side came close shortly after through David Strelec, but the forward saw his shot hit the inside of the post. Their best opportunity of the half came just before the break as a volley from defender Milan Skriniar went narrowly over the bar.
Slovakia continued to push for the opening goal and had the ball in the back of the net on two separate occasions. A low free-kick from Lukas Haraslin found its way past Bailey Peacock-Farrell, though Skriniar was adjudged to have been interfering with play.
Another set piece from the hosts resulted in Rigo’s cross being put home by Haraslin, as the goal was ruled out by VAR after the ball went in off the midfielder’s arm.
However, it proved to be third time lucky for Slovakia, who eventually scored the winning goal. A corner from Laszlo Benes went past the onrushing Peacock-Farrell, with Tomas Bobcek on hand to poke home from close range.
The away side ended the night with ten men when Daniel Ballard was shown a second yellow card for an elbow on Stanislav Labotka. Despite defeat, Northern Ireland’s World Cup dream remains alive, having secured a play-off spot due to their Nations League success.
But for Slovakia, they head to Germany on Monday in a match which could see them finish top of the qualifying group.
Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona made just one change from the Luxembourg game as Labotka came in for Ondrej Duda in midfield, having returned from injury.
Meanwhile, for Michael O’Neill’s side, Conor Bradley returned from suspension to play alongside George Saville in midfield, whilst Ruairi McConville came into the defence. There was a different-looking forward line from the Germany game as Bradley Lyons and Dion Charles joined Isaac Price up front.
It was a quiet start to proceedings with both sides looking to settle into the game. The visitors had an early chance when Justin Devenny crossed towards Price, whose looping header was comfortable for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Whilst Slovakia looked the more dominant side, it was Northern Ireland had a great opportunity to take the lead. Devenny delivered in an excellent free-kick to the towering Daniel Ballard, but the Sunderland defender headed wide.
However, the home side almost found the back of the net as David Hancko played through David Strelec, who was one-on-one with Bailey Peacock-Farrell, but saw his effort come back off the post, only for the flag to be raised.
With 30 minutes on the clock, O’Neill’s men almost caught the Slovakian defence napping when Price’s cross was headed on by McConville into the path of Charles, but the forward miscued his header.
Northern Ireland were gaining momentum as the half wore on and continued to threaten from set pieces as a Devenny free-kick was cleared into the path of Price, but his first-time strike skewed wide.
However, in the closing stages of the first half, Slovakia almost opened the scoring when Tomas Rigo’s free-kick fell to Milan Skriniar, as the defender fired a first-time volley over the bar. Meanwhile, with the final kick of the half, Saville struck a shot off target.
Ten minutes after the restart, Slovakia thought they had broken the deadlock when Lukas Haraslin‘s free-kick squirmed into the back of the net. However, the goal was ruled out due to Skriniar being in an offside position and interfering with play.
The home side were very much in control in the second half as Devenny gifted the ball straight to Haraslin, but struck his effort miles off-target. But their dominance seemed to have finally paid off on 65 minutes when Rigo’s free-kick was put home by Haraslin, though VAR intervened to rule the goal out for handball.
Meanwhile, up the other end, Northern Ireland had a rare sighting of goal through Bradley Lyons, but his strike was put off-target. With ten minutes to go, Hancko combined well with Haraslin before firing a shot straight at Peacock-Farrell.
In the closing stages, Trai Hume played a delightful ball into the path of Devenny, but his shot was kept out by Dubravka, only for the flag to be raised for offside.
However, in added time, Slovakia finally broke the deadlock at the third time of asking as Laszlo Benes‘ corner was put home by Tomas Bobcek to send the home crowd into raptures.
With seconds remaining, the away side’s evening went from bad to worse as they were reduced to ten men after Ballard was shown a second yellow card for an elbow.