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Northern Ireland slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Slovakia in their opening 2010 World Cup qualifying Group 3 match in Bratislava.

The away side had the lion's share of the efforts on goal but were punished by two clinical pieces of finishing from Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik.

Skrtel opened the scoring in the 46th minute, heading home Marek Sapara's free kick.

Northern Ireland were denied a clear penalty after 69 minutes when Martin Petras used his arm to block Chris Baird's strike. One minute later, Slovakia doubled their lead from another set-piece, Hamsik volleying home from a Robert Vittek knockdown.

Northern Ireland pulled one back when Jan Durica turned substitute Chris Brunt's corner into his own net in the 81st minute. For the last 10 minutes Nigel Worthington's men chased an equaliser but their best chance, a Warren Feeney volley in stoppage time, was saved by Stefan Senecky.

Northern Ireland started the game brightly with David Healy linking the play together neatly and Keith Gillespie causing problems with his quick feet on the right flank.

That duo combined in the ninth minute to create a chance for Sammy Clingan.

Gillespie crossed from the right, Healy knocked it back to the Clingan, but the Norwich midfielder could only shoot low on the ground and into the arms of Senecky.

A minute later, Northern Ireland had their best chance of the first half.

A Keith Gillespie corner from the right was met by Chris Baird as he dashed towards the near post. The Fulham defender's powerful header flew over Senecky in the Slovakian goal, and over the crossbar.

As the first half wore on Slovakia began to exert more control over the play. In the 37th minute the home team thought they had taken the lead but a delayed flag ruled out Martin Jakubo's diving header. Replays showed that Jakubo had strayed marginally offside as he stooped to convert Durica's cross from the left.

The teams headed in at the break goalless but Nigel Worthington's half time team-talk was rendered immediately redundant after the restart as Slovakia took the lead in the first minute of the second half.

Worthington appeared to be shouting at his defence to push up as Sapara whipped in a free kick from the left. They did not, allowing Skrtel to steal in and nod home the opening goal.

Northern Ireland recovered the initiative after falling behind with George McCartney heading over another good chance from a Keith Gillespie corner five minutes into the half.

Then, in the 69th minute, came the game's controversial moment. Referee Nikolai Ivanov refused the away side a penalty after defender Petras raised his arm to stop Baird's shot.

Northern Ireland were still complaining when they fell two goals behind one minute later. Jonny Evans conceded a free kick 40 yards out on the right. A good delivery to the far post was met by Vittek, who steered the ball into the path of Hamsik. The prolific Napoli midfielder made no mistake, smashing a shot past Maik Taylor.

Slovakia appeared to have the points wrapped up until Durica's own goal in the 81st minute gave Northern Ireland hope. Substitute Brunt found space on the left and whipped a wicked cross into the corridor of uncertainty. Durica made an attempt to clear the ball but could only divert it past the stony-faced Senecky and into the net.

Buoyed by the goal, Northern Ireland threw players forward in search of an equaliser in the remaining 10 minutes.

They came close in stoppage time when an acrobatic volley from Warren Feeney was turned over by Senecky. The resulting corner provided another good chance in the air for George McCartney but he could only head tamely at the goalkeeper.

POLAND 1-1 SLOVENIA

Poland produced a lacklustre performance to draw 1-1 with Slovenia in their opening Group 3 qualifier.

Poland controlled the game from the start and went 1-0 ahead after a Michal Zewlakow penalty in 17th minute but ran out of steam and allowed Slovenia to launch penetrating counter-attacks.

Zlatko Dedic equalised in the 35th minute, converting a cross from Milivoje Novakovic from 10 metres out.

"We are disappointed at the result and with the standard of our game especially in the second half," Poland coach Leo Beenhakker said. "Slovenia surprised us."

Slovenia attacked in the second half and Dedic came closest in the 46th minute but his shot was saved on the line by defender Marcin Wasilewski.

"For us this is a total defeat," midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski said.

Poland were missing several players including suspended goalkeeper Artur Boruc and midfielders Dariusz Dudka and Radoslaw Majewski.

James Garner / Eurosport / Reuters