Northern Ireland’s hopes of making it through to Group A of the World Cup qualifiers ended with Tomas Bobcek’s goal in stoppage time, but they overcame a 1-0 loss against Slovakia to secure a spot in the play-offs.
Debutant Bobcek had been on the pitch for just three minutes when he fired home a Laszlo Benes corner eight minutes into the extra point, and the goal was made despite Northern Ireland claiming a foul after Daniel Ballard went down in the build-up.
Slovakia had already chalked up shots from Lukas Haraslin and David Strelet in the second half, but this latest goal sparked enthusiastic cheers from the empty home bench.
Slovakia’s Tomas Bobcek scores the winning goal in stoppage time on his international debut
Northern Ireland, without four of the players who started against Germany last month, fought hard for 90 minutes, but Slovakia held the upper hand and will travel to Leipzig on Monday with a chance of finishing top of the group if they can beat Germany.
Northern Ireland’s misery was saved by Ballard receiving a second yellow card in the dying moments, but Croatia’s 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands means they progress through their Nations League group stage and qualify for the play-offs in March.
With Shay Charles, Ali McCann, Brodie Spencer and Ethan Galbraith out through injury and suspension, manager Michael O’Neill introduced Brad Lyons, Ruairi McConville, George Saville and the returning Conor Bradley, with Dion Charles starting up front.
Buoyed by the returns of Stanislav Lobotka and David Hanko, Slovakia looked to fight back against a weakened Northern Ireland side following a 2-0 defeat at Belfast last month, but after a shaky start the visitors grew into the game.
Northern Ireland must qualify for the World Cup through the play-offs
Northern Ireland should have taken the lead in the 17th minute when Ballard beat three defenders to head Justin Devennie’s free-kick, but the chance went just wide.
Middlesbrough’s Strelets looked set to be one-on-one with Bailey Peacock-Farrell after beating the offside trap, but although it hit the post, Slovakia hit back immediately with their biggest chance of the first half. The ball spun to David Duris, but he didn’t have time to adjust as his header went wide.
In a tense and turbulent game that was telling of the situation for both teams, Northern Ireland relied on set-pieces, with Charles only having half a chance before being replaced by Jamie Reid at half-time.
Slovakia looked to have taken the lead eight minutes into the second half when Haraslin took a low free kick from an angle, but Milan Skriniar stretched for the ball in front of Peacock Farrell but was ruled offside.
This caused the sound level inside the Kositska Khutvalova Arena to rise, and it got even louder 10 minutes later when organizers ruled out another match. This was another free-kick on the left and Haraslin took a shot, but Strelets used his hands to put it past Peacock-Farrell.
O’Neill tried to make changes in personnel and shape, but Slovakia continued to attack and the resistance collapsed at the death as Peacock-Farrell failed to deal with a corner kick and Bobcek had his moment of glory.
Ballard was then shown a hard yellow for shoving Lobotka to get his marching orders, and as the night drew on for Northern Ireland, O’Neill was also cautioned by referee István Kovac after the final whistle.
O’Neill: “Referee should have been stronger”
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill believes Slovakia’s winner should not have been conceded
Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill:
“When you lose a game late like we did, it’s always disappointing, especially when you lose a goal that clearly should have been disallowed.
“It’s obvious that Daniel Ballard has his back in the corner with both hands.
“The other two goals that were canceled should have been canceled. The first goal was offside, the lines clearly show that. The second goal was a handball.”
“You have to look at each incident on its merits. You can’t look at it cumulatively and referee the last incident differently than you refereed the other two. That’s what (VAR) is for…
“Bailey will know he should have done better. He comes when he might not have to come… but in the end it’s still a foul.
“I told the referee I need to be stronger and he picked me. But I went to shake his hand. I said, ‘I need to be stronger,’ and that was enough for him to pick me. If I wasn’t allowed to say it, I shouldn’t have said it.”
