Miroslav Stoch, on as a late substitute, was the hero of the night as he netted a late winner for Slovakia in their 2-1 win over Spain just minutes after Paco Alcacer had equalised for the visitors in a Euro 2016 qualifying match.
Having won their last 5 out of 6 games, Slovakia came into Thursday's fixture full of belief, looking to follow up their victory in Ukraine with a good result over Vicente Del Bosque's side. However, Spain still recovering from their World Cup woes looked to take advantage of the fact Slovakia had never won in front of home crowd at the Stadion Pod Dubnom.
After picking Paco Alcacer, who scored on his full debut, ahead of an unfit Diego Costa last time out against Macedonia, Del Bosque switched the two strikers on the teamsheet, which would turn out to be the wrong decision.
From the off, the Spanish team, full of World Cup and Euro winners, looked direct as ever, evidently urgent in moving the ball to the final third of the pitch. However, Slovakia had a plan, like many of teams, to stop the persistence with hurried pressure causing misplaced passes and easy amendment to Slovakia's failure in keeping possession.
Ever so neat and precise around the box, Spain's first eye of goal fell to Iniesta, who latched onto a lucky bounce, finding himself with a clear opportunity left of the goal, wrongfully dragging the ball back instead of shooting before being closed down.
A resolute Slovakian central defence, consisting of Liverpool's and captain, Martin Skrtel and Lokomotiv Moscow's Jan Durica, had a splendid first twenty minutes, warranting a sense amongst the home faithful that it would take a something special to get past these two and Kozacik in goals.
The Slovaks looked controlled and direct going forward. A cross from Pekarik found winger Robert Mak's who produced a fine volley forcing an impressive save out of Iker Casillas, still trying to repossess his known brilliance after heavy criticism following poor displays in Brazil. The goalkeeper moving one way, changed his body to the other superlatively, keeping the game on level terms.
Iniesta and Fabregas in more of an advanced role, ahead of Koke and Busquets linked well to setup Costa's first chance but his header went wide, the Chelsea striker is yet to score for his country.
Despite Spain's dominance on the ball, it was Kucka, who surprisingly opened the scoring. The Slovakian midfielder struck his costless-kick so fiercely that it compelled Iker Casillas into making a blunder. The powerful shot found a gap between the wall, a rather straight-forward task for the Spanish No.1 until the flightpath of the ball moved to the left just before reaching the goal. The misjudgment, flap and bundle will no doubt, again, leave Del Bosque in question over his selection of keeper, increasing the chances of David De Gea making his second senior cap, who had a wonderful performance against Everton on Sunday.
Spain fought hard to find the equaliser. Albiol, firing over the bar from 6 yards out after a scramble from a corner, should have done better. Two great close range saves by Kozacik kept out Costa and Busquets, which would be the start of a heroic night for the 30 year old.
Half-time arised. The Slovakian's putting in their maximum, had a fully deserved lead over a stunned Spain. The visiting team had never come back to win a Euro Qualifier away from home, since 1998 in Israel.
Nevertheless, Del Bosque's message at the break was immediately portrayed on the pitch. Straight out of the blocks, it was more like the Spain we know. Slick and fast passing forced a corner from the kick-off. Great play from Fabregas, who flicked on to Iniesta running into Slovakian territory, forced the keeper out, reminiscent of his first-half chance, should have taken a shot but passed back to Silva, who poorly laid the ball into the hands of the racing Kozacik.
Fantastic movement from Spain, showed signs of the superstars getting warmer. An amazingly disguised pass from Busquets to Juanfran opened up the defence, crossing into the hard-working Fabregas, who brought out another superb save.
Similar to his performance against Ukraine, the inspired goalkeeper denied Costa after the forward dribbled past three defenders in order to pull off a weak shot. Spain kept ever so patient in approach, suiting Skrtel and Durica poised surely for anything thrown at them.
So much prospect from set-pieces, but poor delivery every time was costing the Spaniards. Fabregas should have taken up Koke's position, while the young Atletico man, who has been relied on so much for the La Liga champions from close areas this season, was allowed to duly convey.
Frustration and desperation started to creep in, but biding their time proved precise as ever when Jordi Alba's whipped in cross reached Paco Alcacer, who replaced Silva moments before, beating the offside trap and taking the ball down with a stunning touch, equalised with a fantastic finish. Paco thought he had rescued Spain.
However, the inevitable happened. Mayhem at the other end, Vicente Del Bosque's heart sunk as Stoch headed beyond Casillas. The former Real Madrid boss prepared to go for the victory after bringing on an offensive option in Cazorla to play wing-back. The gamble cost him so dearly. A great cross picked out Stoch at the far post, who lost Cazorla, leaving Casillas in blushes once again.
Spain still had time to find a point, but so blown away by what had happened, they only produced one real opportunity which fell to Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, but his shot summed up the Spanish performance, so weak and terribly disappointing.
The final whistle blew in Zilina and records were crushed. Tactically superior, Kozak's men out fought and out thought the defending champions. Although the goalkeeping contrast vindicated the result, Del Bosque, who offered to resign after a miserable World Cup campaign, has a lot to do in order to redefine the efforts of his players showed before Brazil after suffering a first qualifying defeat in eight years
