A dramatic, injury-time winner from debutant Tomas Bobcek condemned Northern Ireland to a 1-0 defeat in Slovakia, but Michael O'Neill's side still secured a precious World Cup qualifying play-off place thanks to results elsewhere.
Heartbreak in Added Time
In a tense and scrappy affair in Kosice, the match seemed destined for a goalless draw until the first of eight added minutes. Substitute Tomas Bobcek, who had been on the pitch for a mere three minutes, pounced to fire home from Laszlo Benes' corner, sparking wild celebrations from the Slovakian bench.
The goal was a bitter pill to swallow for Northern Ireland, who had vehemently appealed for a foul on defender Daniel Ballard in the build-up. Their protests were in vain, and their misery was compounded moments later when Ballard received a second yellow card for a push on Stanislav Lobotka, reducing them to ten men for the final seconds.
A Battle of Attrition
Facing a strengthened Slovakian side, Northern Ireland had to weather significant pressure, especially in the second half. The home team thought they had broken the deadlock on two separate occasions, only for the efforts to be ruled out. First, a low free-kick from Lukas Haraslin was chalked off for an offside against Milan Skriniar. Minutes later, David Strelec saw his close-range finish disallowed for a handball.
Northern Ireland, missing several key players through injury and suspension, battled resolutely. Their best chance of the match fell to Daniel Ballard in the first half, whose powerful header from a Justin Devenny free-kick whistled just wide of the post.
The Silver Lining
Despite the gut-wrenching nature of the loss, the evening was not a complete failure for Northern Ireland. Croatia's 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands guaranteed O'Neill's squad a place in the World Cup play-offs next March, a reward for their success in their Nations League group.
This crucial consolation means the campaign remains very much alive, offering a second chance to reach the global showpiece despite the late heartbreak in Slovakia.
