Slovaks quell NI hopes

Slovakia all but ended Northern Ireland's hopes of WC qualification with a 2-0 win at Windsor Park.

Group leaders have one foot in South Africa after hard-earned win

Slovakia all but ended Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa next summer by winning 2-0 at Windsor Park on Wednesday. Goals from Stanislav Sestak after 15 minutes and substitute Filip Holosko midway through the second half sealed the win for the visitors. The home side, despite their superior possession, never really got going in the first half and seemed shell-shocked when Slovakia took the lead after good work from the impressive Vladimir Weiss down the right allowed Sestak to tap home. Northern Ireland improved considerably in the second period and put pressure on the visitors' goal with Martin Paterson having at least three chances to pull the hosts level. However it was Slovakia who struck next and it was a killer blow for Nigel Worthington's men. Captain Aaron Hughes slipped to allow Holosko to run through on goal and the striker punished the Fulham man with an emphatic finish, low and hard past Maik Taylor. It was also the first home defeat suffered in seven competitive games by Northern Ireland and as such unexpected. Yet they could have gone ahead inside 60 seconds. David Healy tested goalkeeper Jan Mucha after Paterson played the ball back to him.

Crucial challenge

Slovakia responded immediately and gave a taste of what was to come with Stephen Craigan having to make a crucial challenge on Sestak. The visitors looked dangerous on the counter-attack and surged forward after 13 minutes but Jonny Evans got the better of Robert Vittek as he prepared to shoot. Northern Ireland, though, were rocked back on their heels two minutes later when Slovakia made the breakthrough. Weiss, son of the manager of the same name, skipped past Evans and laid the ball into the path of Sestak, who made no mistake from close range. Northern Ireland hit back in the 27th minute when Grant McCann picked out Healy but he sent his effort wide of the post. It was a frustrating period for the province as they struggled to break down the visitors. However they raised the tempo in the second half and McCann delivered a cross into the path of Damien Johnson but he was off-balance and headed over the top in the 48th minute. But at least his effort got the crowd going and Paterson homed in on goal two minutes later after getting away from Martin Skrtel. However Mucha raced off his line to make the block and deny the striker the equaliser. This was a good spell by Northern Ireland and Slovakia were suddenly looking a bit vulnerable at the back. Johnson then found space down the right in the 63rd minute but his cross only found the arms of goalkeeper Mucha.

Superb reactions

Paterson again came close two minutes later after being picked out by Healy on the left but Mucha reacted superbly to beat away his shot. Slovakia made it 2-0 in the 66th minute following a swift counter-attack with substitute Holosko knocking the ball past Maik Taylor two minutes after stepping off the bench. It was an uphill task now for Northern Ireland as they entered a crucial phase of the game. Substitute Niall McGinn almost pulled a goal back in the 71st minute, only for his effort to clip the angle of post and bar. Northern Ireland kept pushing forward but were unable to break Slovakia's resistance and Marek Sapara almost added a third, but his shot hit the post after he had stepped off the bench. The defeat, their first in six qualifiers, leaves the province's hopes of booking their passage to South Africa hanging in the balance. Northern Ireland must now beat Czech Republic in their final group game and rely on results elsewhere if they are to secure a play-off place.

Northern Ireland	Team Statistics	Slovakia
0	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	1
3	Shots on Target	3
6	Shots off Target	2
0	Blocked Shots	1
5	Corners	3
19	Fouls	15
2	Offsides	3
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
75.8	Passing Success	67.6
26	Tackles	22
57.7	Tackles Success	81.8
57.7	Possession	42.3
57.2	Territorial Advantage	42.8