Slovakia 1-0 Northern Ireland World Cup qualifying result - Tomas Bobcek scores late winner, but Michael O'Neill's side still secure play-off place

Tomas Bobcek's strike in the first minute of stoppage time secured Slovakia an ultimately deserved 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, which guarantees a top-two finish for the hosts.

Bobcek had only just been introduced from the bench by Francesco Calzona when he fired home a close-range finish after meeting Laszlo Benes' corner.

The visitors can have few complaints about the result, after being largely outplayed in a match which saw Slovakia have two efforts ruled out for offside and handball respectively.

Lukas Haraslin thought he had broken the deadlock 11 minutes after the restart when his free-kick flew past Bailey Peacock-Farrell, but the goal was chalked off, with Milan Skriniar deemed to be interfering with play from an offside position.

It looked like being one of those nights for Calzona's men when David Strelec was penalised for handball when turning home another set-piece by Haraslin.

O'Neill's men thought they were escaping with a hard-fought point to keep their top-two challenge alive, until Bobcek came on to snatch all three points.

A disappointing evening was compounded when Dan Ballard received a very harsh second yellow card following a collision with Stan Lobokta.

However, there was a big silver lining for the visitors. With Croatia beating the Faroe Islands, it meant that Northern Ireland were assured of a play-off place as one of best-ranked UEFA Nations League sides not to secure a top-two finish.

Therefore, Northern Ireland could still end a 40-year wait to appear at a World Cup finals when they contest the play-offs next March.

Bobcek's stoppage-time strike seals all three points for Slovakia on a frustrating night for Northern Ireland.

Nevertheless, O'Neill's men are assured of a play-off place as one of the four highest-ranked UEFA Nations League sides to finish outside of the top two places in World Cup qualifying.

That's incredibly harsh.

Ballard receives a second yellow card for colliding with Lobotka.

Saville is cautioned for pulling back Bozenik, and he's ruled out for the final match against Luxembourg on Sunday.

Hume has put in a solid shift, and he's replaced by Brown in the closing stages.

The answer is no.

Slovakia have the ball in the back of the net for the third time, and this time it does count!

Bobcek makes an immediate impact, firing home from close range to meet Benes' corner.

Strelec is replaced by Bozenik.

There will also be eight minutes of added time to be played here.

Can Northern Ireland hold on for a point?

Slovakia are going for it here, as Bobcek replaces Gyomber in the first of two further changes.

Northern Ireland would have been pleased to see Haraslin leave the pitch, and he's replaced by Tupta.

Benes replaces Rigo in the first half of a double Slovakia change.

Hancko links up brilliantly with Haraslin, but shoots straight at Peacock-Farrell.

Some fine build-up play, but a lack of cutting edge.

That sums up Slovakia's night so far.

Reid is withdrawn injured, as the substitute is substituted.

He is replaced by Donley.

O'Neill brings on Magennis for McNair, in what is a show of attacking intent by the visitors.

Gyomber is cautioned for a challenge on Devenny.

Hancko blazes an attempt over from close range, and the unrelenting Slovakia pressure continues.

That comes before Sauer replaces Duris in the hosts' first change.

Bradley is harshly penalised for a foul on Haraslin on the right, despite there appearing to be minimal contact.

Haraslin whips in the free-kick and the ball appears to be turned in by Strelec.

However, the effort is subsequently ruled out for handball!

Price plays a sloppy ball which Haraslin intercepts, but he fires over the bar.

This is all a bit sloppy from Northern Ireland at the moment.

The Sunderland defender is booked for pulling down Haraslin.

Haraslin is brought down by Hume, and Slovakia have a free-kick in a promising position out on the left.

The Sparta Prague man takes the subsequent set-piece, and the ball flies past Peacock-Farrell.

It appears that Skriniar was interfering with play from an offside position, and VAR confirms the referee's decision.