It was a coming of age moment for Marcus Rashford.
His first Wembley goal, the winner which puts England within a point of reaching the World Cup finals.
But it was also the night when 19-year-old Rashford passed a major test and, in doing so, perhaps proved that England are making progress.
Rashford was badly at fault for Stanislav Lobotka’s opening goal, giving the ball away in a terrible area and England suffered an almighty scare.
England might have crumbled in the past, remembering the Iceland disaster at Euro 2016 and awful Wembley disasters in crucial qualifiers against Poland, Germany, Croatia and the rest.
But Rashford’s response typified England’s recovery. Defiant, brave and strong. If Gareth Southgate wanted proof that England are moving in the right direction then Rashford provided it.
It was Rashford’s corner for Eric Dier’s equaliser, the Manchester United teenager dazzled with his dribbling and pace until his brilliant 59th minute winner brought Wembley to its feet.
The goal was a world class strike, it showed what an incredible talent Rashford is and he will be England’s brightest hope. He had better get used to the hype because he is this generation’s David Beckham, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney rolled into one.
Rashford went off to a standing ovation when he was substituted in the dying minutes, got a huge hug from Southgate and no doubt an even bigger thank you.
It was hardly the most polished or convincing victory. This, after all, is Slovakia. But England showed real character and they will need that if they are to bridge the gap with the world’s best next summer.
England are not great but they are nothing without inner strength and belief. They dug deep to get the job done, no-one worked harder than Dele Alli to haul England back into the game and yet there is clearly a lot of work to be done.
It means England are now five points clear in the Group, a point from sealing their place with games against Slovenia and Lithuania to come and their remarkable unbeaten run in qualifying matches now up to 19 games.
Quite how England got up to 19 not out says more about their easy path in recent qualifying campaigns. The fact that England struggled badly at times against Slovakia is much more of a realistic reflection of where we are right now.
England’s frailties were highlighted by Rashford’s early mistake. Trying to dribble away from his own box, Rashford was closed down, Lobotka then nicked the ball off him and played a one-two with Adam Nemec.
Lobotka then raced through onto the return pass, England keeper Joe Hart was sluggish off his line and the Slovakia midfielder put the ball past him and into the net.
The TV cameras instantly zoomed in on Rashford, head down and looking distraught. Rashford tried hard so hard to make amends. Southgate switched him from the right to the left wing, he kept going and the rewards followed.
Harry Kane won a 37th minute corner. Rashford drilled the ball to the near post, Dier ran across the face of goal and swept the ball home at the near post. Hardly a classic but Wembley drew a collective sigh of relief.
England had an incredible let off when Kyle Walker brought down Slovakia’s Vladimir Weiss in first half injury time when the ex-Manchester City forward went through. Walker could have seen red and yet incredibly French referee Clement Turpin did not give a foul.
It was a let-off which perhaps proved to be game changer. England were much better after the restart. Rashford, Alli and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all went close. Nemec forced a good save from Hart but it was England in control.
Sure enough, it was Rashford who provided the winner. Alli made a crucial interception, Jordan Henderson drove forward, fed Rashford and he cut inside before unleashing a brilliant low 20 yard shot which dipped and swerved into the far corner.
England’s latest hero has arrived.