Wales’ hopes of reaching a first major tournament suffered a blow in a 2-1 defeat by Slovakia in Poprad.

Slovakia took a deserved lead on 49 minutes when Martina Surnovska curled home a beautiful effort from outside the penalty area after Wales failed to clear from a corner.

The hosts doubled their advantage through Maria Mikolajova’s stylish free-kick just before the hour mark as a disjointed Wales failed to find any rhythm or fluidity.

Wales seemed set for a truly disastrous defeat, but substitute Ffion Morgan’s late strike from close range gives them a route back into the tie before the second leg at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.

Wales will feel relieved to still be alive in the tie, having produced an uncharacteristically bad performance that left their hopes hanging by a thread with the score at 2-0.

Arguably, Wales’ key absences caught up with them on a difficult evening in northern Slovakia.

Boss Rhian Wilkinson would have been hoping to head into a game of such huge significance at full strength, but was instead without arguably her two most important players in the past few decades, record appearance maker and goalscorer Jess Fishlock and cap centurion Sophie Ingle.

Fishlock has worked for six weeks to overcome a leg injury sustained for club side Seattle Reign in early September, but was only fit enough to make an appearance off the bench, while Ingle is sidelined long-term after undergoing knee surgery.

The Wales team paid tribute to Ingle in their pre-match photograph as they looked to navigate a fixture without Fishlock and Ingle for the first time in five years.

Nevertheless, Wales started as favourites to beat a nation 22 places lower in the world rankings and who have failed to win any of their previous four fixtures.

The visitors did start on the front foot, but Slovakian captain Maria Korenciova saved adroitly at her near post to deny Charlie Estcourt, before Ceri Holland blazed over the crossbar after a strong run.

Wales’ failure to capitalise on their strong start galvanised the hosts who began to threaten, with Mikolajova forcing Olivia Clark to save from distance, while Patricia Hmirova hammered the ball high and wide with a decent amount of time and space.

Wales’ uncertainty and hesitancy saw them turn over the ball on several occasions and they experienced a huge let-off on 28 minutes when Surnovska fired wide from close range after Josie Green’s missed header gave her time and space to score, with Wales goalkeeper Clark doing well to narrow the angle.

Clark would have been expecting a quieter evening against a side who have not exactly been prolific in front of goal, but she kept Wales in the game before the break.

The FC Twente goalkeeper produced a great save to deny Surnovska after an incisive break split the defence, with Klaudia Fabova inexplicably opting for power over placement on the rebound, blazing over the crossbar.

Clark was also called into action as she tipped Mikolajova’s cross over, with Wales more than happy to go into the interval level at 0-0.

Wilkinson opted to make a change at the break with Alice Griffiths replacing Estcourt, but it was the hosts who came close to a breakthrough when Green’s wayward defensive header went just past the post.

However, there was no denying Slovakia deserved to be ahead and they made the breakthrough on 49 minutes when Surnovska fired home brilliantly from long range as Wales failed to clear from the corner.

A bad night for Wales got worse on 59 minutes when Mikolajova curled home a sumptuous free-kick after Angharad James’ challenge.

Wales were being cut open time and time again and only a last-ditch tackle by Gemma Evans denied Surnovska a certain second.

Fishlock was introduced as Wales tried to regain a foothold in the tie and she was involved in a move that culminated in Rachel Rowe firing just wide on 72 minutes.

Wales desperately needed at least a goal to give themselves hopes of a comeback at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, but Kayleigh Barton’s header was saved by Korenciova.

Wales at least finished the game strongly and with just a minute of normal time remaining Fishlock helped to produce a vital breakthrough as her cute pass found Morgan in space and the subsitute delivered with a fine finish into the roof of the net.

Wales now have hope - though there is no away goals rule with the playoffs - despite a chastening evening against one of the lowest ranked sides remaining in qualification.