Slovakia 2-1 N Ireland

Steve Davis and Miroslav Karhan challenge for the ball

Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 2-1 defeat in Slovakia.

Martin Jakubko found the net but his header was ruled out for offside.

Martin Skrtel scored in the 46th minute with a glancing header and Robert Vittek headed down for Marek Hamsik to fire home a low shot after 70 minutes.

Jan Durica put the ball past his own goalkeeper on 81 minutes and late in the game Stefan Senecky produced a fine save from a Warren Feeney drive.

David Healy saw his shot blocked in the sixth minute, Sammy Clingan then had a left-foot shot easily saved and Chris Baird headed over from a Keith Gillespie corner.

Slovakia enjoyed a period of possession without troubling Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor until Jakubko's header from a left-wing cross was disallowed.

Martin Petras then headed wide from eight yards when left unmarked in the 40th minute.

Healy fired wide of the post after collecting a Steve Davis pass two minutes before the break, the striker shooting from 20 yards out when he could have taken the ball on.

Marek Sapara provided a sweeping right-foot cross from the left for Liverpool defender Skrtel to head in a minute after half-time.

George McCartney had a chance to equalise but his free header from 12 yards from a Keith Gillespie corner went over the bar.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on N Ireland's defeat in Slovakia

Feeney replaced Keith Gillespie and soon after Martin Paterson shot straight at Senecky, before being substituted in favour of Chris Brunt.

Northern Ireland were denied a penalty in the 69th minute when Chris Baird's shot appeared to strike the hand of a Slovakian defender but the referee waved play on.

Hamsik netted the second and then almost added a third for the home side.

Durica's own-goal gave Nigel Worthington's men hope but in the final minute Senecky pushed Feeney's header over the bar and then McCartney saw his headed effort from a corner easily dealt with by the goalkeeper.

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Slovakia: Senecky, Durica, Skrtel, Pekarik, Martin Petras, Karhan, Kozak, Jakubko, Hamsik, Sapara, Vittek.
Subs: Mucha, Novak, Zabavnik, Svento, Mintal, Obzera, Sebo.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Hughes, Craigan, McCartney, Evans, Davis, Gillespie, Clingan, Paterson, Healy.
Subs: Mannus, McAuley, Brunt, McGivern, Shiels, Thompson, Feeney.

Referee: Nikolai Ivanov (Russia)

Att: 5,445

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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Northern Ireland's Martin Paterson 6.42 (on 90 minutes).

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