Northern Ireland´s World Cup bid suffers hammer blow

Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1986 suffered a hammer blow as Slovakia won 2-0 at Windsor Park on Wednesday.

Nigel Worthington’s side would have replaced the Slovakians on top of Group Three with a victory, but goals from Stanislav Sestak and Filip Holosko left their dreams of a first appearance on international football’s biggest stage since 1986 hanging by a thread.

Instead of moving within touching distance of next year’s finals in South Africa, the Irish must win their last match against the Czech Republic and hope other results go their way to secure second spot and a play-off place – while Slovakia look well set to progress to their first ever appearance in the finals since they separated from their Czech neighbours.

With Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty, a scorer in Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Poland, sidelined by a knee injury, Worthington turned to Burnley striker Martin Paterson.

Paterson, who had yet to open his account for the Irish, partnered David Healy in a match being billed as Northern Ireland’s biggest in 23 years.

Worthington’s team kicked off just two points behind the Slovaks and looking to extend their unbeaten run in competitive games to six matches.

The thunderous atmosphere in the early stages underlined the magnitude of the occasion for Ireland and the hosts seemed as though they may be carried towards South Africa on a wall of sound when Healy tested goalkeeper Jan Mucha in the first minute.

But Slovakia responded immediately and it needed an alert tackle from Manchester United defender Jonny Evans to deny Robert Vittek as he prepared to shoot.

The visitors were moving the ball around slickly and snatched the lead in the 15th minute when Vladimir Weiss surged past Evans and laid the ball into the path of Sestak, who finished well from close range.

That sucked the air from Worthington’s team for several minutes, but their success has been built more on blood-minded will to win than silky skill and they gradually began to regain a foothold in the match.

The hosts threatened in the 27th minute when Grant McCann picked out Healy but the Sunderland star sent his shot wide of the post.

However, well marshalled by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, the Slovakians had a resolute look about them.

Northern Ireland were unbeaten in six qualifying matches at Windsor Park since Worthington took charge, but they lacked the killer instinct to unlock Slovakia’s defence.

Damien Johnson headed McCann’s cross over soon after half-time, then Paterson wasted a glorious chance as he shot straight at Mucha.

Paterson had opportunity to make amends two minutes later after being picked out by Healy on the left but again Mucha reacted superbly to beat away his shot.

Those misses proved decisive as Slovakia increased their lead in the 66th minute when Holosko slotted home two minutes after coming off the bench.

Niall McGinn almost pulled a goal back for Northern Ireland in the 71st minute when the substitute’s effort clipped the woodwork, but there was to be no fairytale comeback.