Wales kept their dreams of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time on track with a dramatic 2-0 extra-time victory over Slovakia at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Ceri Holland’s late goal - given after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check after Kayleigh Barton rattled the post - saw Wales complete their comeback after they had at one stage trailed the tie 2-0 in the first leg.

Wales restored parity on 38 minutes in the return leg as Jess Fishlock chipped the ball home expertly after Angharad James’ deft pass split the resolute Slovakian defence.

Ffion Morgan missed two golden chances to put Wales ahead and Fishlock saw two goals disallowed as the hosts pushed for a winner, but the tie could not be settled in 90 minutes.

Extra time drifted by with opportunities few and far between and it was Holland who settled matters as she slotted home after Barton beat the Slovakian offside trap and rattled the post.

Wales can now look forward to a play-off final against the Republic of Ireland - winners over Georgia - after a night where they were once again inspired by Fishlock.

Wales were able to hit the ‘in case of emergency break glass’ button and pick their most-capped player and top goalscorer, who made her first start since suffering a leg injury for Seattle Reign on 9 September.

Morgan, who scored the goal that gave Wales something to cling to heading into this contest, also returned to the starting XI as Wales desperately sought to salvage their major tournament dream.

Wales struggled to retain possession and played in a style boss Rhian Wilkinson described as “frantic” in Poprad in their 2-1 first-leg defeat, but there was significant hope they could turn the tie around in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 in Cardiff.

Wales retained their shape with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Alice Griffiths given the unenviable task of filling-in for cap centurion Sophie Ingle, who watched from the stands as she recovers from ACL surgery on her knee.

However, there was a familiarity about the opening exchanges as Wales dominated possession and looked to be positive but again lacked composure and quality when it came to the final ball.

Wales’ best opportunity in a tepid opening 30 minutes culminated in Rachel Rowe producing an air shot and Morgan dragging a shot wide, with goalkeeper Maria Korenciova untested and untroubled as she also saw a Holland effort sail over the crossbar.

Morgan was able to utilise her pace to stretch the Slovakian defence, but both a cut-back cross and a deft flick just failed to find Fishlock in space.

However, Fishlock is a tough women to keep quiet for long spells and on 38 minutes Wales made the breakthrough as Angharad James’ splendid pass bisected Slovakia’s defence and sent Fishlock clear to calmly chip the ball over the goalkeeper for her 46th Wales goal.

Fishlock might have doubled her tally just 60 seconds later after a tenacious piece of play from Rowe sent her clear, but this time her instinctive first-time effort was saved by Korenciova.

Morgan also had a late first-half chance to double Wales’ lead, but she took an extra touch as she raced clear and allowed Jana Vojtekova to make a vital block.

Morgan’s pace was a constant problem for Slovakia and she might have put Wales ahead on 47 minutes but fired over after cleverly beating her marker.

A minute later an even better chance arrived as Lily Woodham sent Morgan clear, but she blazed wide with just Korenciova to beat.

Wales struggled for almost 135 minutes to find a way to hurt Slovakia but were enjoying more and more joy with balls over the top and in behind their high defensive line.

The hosts were piling on the pressure and Fishlock thought she had scored a second on 64 minutes, but an offside flag against Holland halted Wales’ joy, before Fishlock again saw the flag raised as she stroked the ball home four minutes later.

Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark was a virtual spectator but was on her toes as a mistake from James allowed substitute Tamara Moravkova a run at goal on 82 minutes, but she fired wide as extra time loomed.

Fishlock’s energy levels unsurprisingly depleted as the contest wore on and Wales inevitably looked less threatening, with her turn and volley on 102 minutes the only opportunity in the first period of extra time.

Penalties were looming ever larger in the Welsh capital as Wales boss Wilkinson sent on Hannah Cain and pushed Fishlock back into a deep-lying playmaker role, with the change adding impetus to the hosts.

The decisive goal arrived on 112 minutes as Barton sprinted clear and rattled the post, with Holland scoring the rebound to break Slovakian hearts.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside but was given after a lengthy VAR check as Wales avoided a penalty shoot-out, 217 days after Wales’ men were beaten by Poland on penalties at the same ground in a Euros play-off.

Wales will now face Republic of Ireland for a place at Euro 2025 in the play-off final, with the first leg on 29 November at Cardiff City Stadium and the return on 3 December at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.