In what was a nervy contest befitting of the high stakes, the game was a largely disjointed affair right up to the point of Slovakia’s late winner.
Both sides still had good chances in the opening 20 minutes, but Daniel Ballard’s header drifted just wide for the visitors, while Slovakia striker David Strelec struck the post.
As the half wore on with the game still lacking in rhythm, Dion Charles’ header did not have the power to trouble Martin Dubravka and, in the final moments before half-time, the hosts’ captain Milan Skriniar smashed an effort over the bar from the edge of the box.
Slovakia started the second half in the ascendancy and thought they had been rewarded for their efforts in the 56th minute when Lukas Haraslin’s free-kick from a wide position found the bottom corner. However, the linesman adjudged that Skriniar had obstructed the view of goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Just eight minutes later Slovakia had another chalked off by the video assistant referee (VAR), this time for a handball by Strelec.
Chances were few and far between thereafter until Peacock-Farrell misjudged a late set-piece, leaving Bobcek to tap into an empty net and spark wild celebrations from Slovakia who remain level on points with group leaders Germany on 12 points before the pair meet in a group decider on Monday.
As frustration boiled over in the closing minutes, Daniel Ballard was sent off for a second yellow card moments after George Saville picked up his second yellow of the campaign.
Both will now be suspended for Northern Ireland’s concluding fixture of the campaign against Luxembourg on Monday (19:45 GMT).
