“Leo Sauer converts from close range to give Slovakia an early lead after sustained pressure following a free kick won in the attacking half.”
“Against the run of play, Ramazan Karimov levels for Kazakhstan with a stunning strike from outside the box after Slovakia failed to clear a corner situation cleanly.”
Pivotal“Dávid Hancko rises highest at the back post to head home Ondrej Duda's corner delivery, restoring Slovakia's lead after a long spell of pressure without a breakthrough.”
Pivotal
Slovakia
Kazakhstan
Outstanding performance
Slovakia•DefenderSlovakia dominated territory and possession from the first whistle, racking up 75% possession and 17 shots to Kazakhstan's 3, yet found themselves pegged back almost immediately after taking the lead. Leo Sauer's close-range finish in the 26th minute looked to set the hosts on their way, only for Ramazan Karimov to punish a loose spell with a stunning strike from outside the box just nine minutes later. Kazakhstan's back line, backed by six saves from their goalkeeper and a heavily populated defensive shape, frustrated Slovakia for long periods before finally cracking in the 82nd minute when Dávid Hancko rose to head home from a corner. The result underlines Slovakia's superiority on paper - 8 corners to 1, 71 dangerous attacks to 21 - but also exposes their struggles to convert dominance into goals against a well-organized underdog until the very end.
How entertaining was this match?
Substitution for Slovakia: Dávid Duris comes on for Martin Valjent.
Stanislav Lobotka from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Galymzhan Kenzhebek of Kazakhstan.
Foul committed by Damir Kasabulat of Kazakhstan.
Ondrej Duda from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Galymzhan Kenzhebek of Kazakhstan.
Martin Valjent from Slovakia wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Kazakhstan: Elkhan Astanov comes on for Arsen Ashirbek.
Attempt saved. Róbert Bozeník's right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal by Stas Pokatilov. Adam Obert provided the assist.
Damir Kasabulat from Kazakhstan is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ondrej Duda of Slovakia.
assist: Ondrej Duda
Goal! Slovakia 2, Kazakhstan 1. Dávid Hancko scores for Slovakia with a header from a challenging angle on the left into the bottom left corner, assisted by Ondrej Duda's cross after a corner.
Corner awarded to Slovakia after a concession by Arsen Ashirbek.
Ondrej Duda's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. He was assisted by Stanislav Lobotka.
Substitution for Slovakia: Ivan Schranz comes on for Lukás Haraslín.
Substitution for Slovakia: Róbert Bozeník comes on for David Strelec.
Lukás Haraslín's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the center of the goal by Stas Pokatilov. The attempt was assisted by Dávid Hancko.
Foul committed by Ramazan Karimov of Kazakhstan.
Adam Obert from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Kazakhstan: Damir Kasabulat comes on for Islambek Kuat due to an injury.
Martin ValjentYellow CardMartin Valjent from Slovakia receives a yellow card.
Foul committed by Martin Valjent of Slovakia.
Galymzhan Kenzhebek from Kazakhstan is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Martin Valjent of Slovakia.
Martin Valjent from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ramazan Orazov of Kazakhstan.
Substitution for Slovakia: Tomás Bobcek comes on for Leo Sauer.
Kazakhstan is awarded a corner after Martin Dúbravka concedes.
Martin Valjent's left-footed shot from outside the box for Slovakia is blocked.
Attempt saved. Ramazan Karimov's right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Martin Dúbravka.
Attempt missed. Leo Sauer's header from the center of the box goes wide to the left. Ondrej Duda provided the assist with a cross after a corner.
Slovakia wins a corner after Galymzhan Kenzhebek concedes.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Temirlan Erlanov from Kazakhstan.
Substitution for Kazakhstan: Ramazan Orazov comes on for Zhasulan Amir.
Substitution for Kazakhstan: Galymzhan Kenzhebek comes on for Stanislav Basmanov.
Leo Sauer's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Adam Obert's cross.
Attempt missed. Ondrej Duda from Slovakia takes a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it goes high and wide to the right.
Attempt saved. Martin Valjent from Slovakia has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Stas Pokatilov from Kazakhstan. The shot was assisted by Ondrej Duda.
Foul committed by Stanislav Basmanov of Kazakhstan.
Martin Valjent from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Aleksandr Mrynskiy from Kazakhstan hits the bar with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box.
Foul committed by Zhasulan Amir of Kazakhstan.
Stanislav Lobotka from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Milan Skriniar's right-footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the center of the goal by Stas Pokatilov. The attempt was assisted by Martin Valjent.
Arsen Ashirbek from Kazakhstan is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Lukás Haraslín of Slovakia.
The second half begins with the match tied at 1-1 between Slovakia and Kazakhstan.
Substitution for Kazakhstan: Aleksandr Mrynskiy comes on for Ismail Bekbolat.
First half ends with the score tied at 1-1 between Slovakia and Kazakhstan.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Foul committed by Arsen Ashirbek of Kazakhstan.
Lukás Haraslín wins a free kick for Slovakia in the attacking half.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Islambek Kuat from Kazakhstan.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Islambek Kuat commits a foul for Kazakhstan.
Islambek Kuat from Kazakhstan receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Tomás Suslov from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Slovakia is called offside as Martin Valjent is caught in an offside position.
Nuraly Alip commits a foul for Kazakhstan.
Ondrej Duda from Slovakia is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Dávid Hancko's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Milan Skriniar provided the assist.
assist: Zhasulan Amir
Goal! Ramazan Karimov scores for Kazakhstan with a right-footed shot from outside the box into the top right corner, assisted by Zhasulan Amir. The match is now 1-1 against Slovakia.
Corner awarded to Slovakia after a concession by Nuraly Alip.
Tomás Suslov's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by David Strelec.
Foul committed by Stanislav Basmanov of Kazakhstan.
Martin Valjent from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Zhasulan Amir from Kazakhstan.
Dávid Hancko from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Stanislav Basmanov from Kazakhstan is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Martin Valjent of Slovakia.
Dinmukhamed Karaman from Kazakhstan wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by David Strelec of Slovakia.
David StrelecYellow CardDavid Strelec from Slovakia receives a yellow card for a foul.
Tomás Suslov's left-footed shot from outside the box for Slovakia is blocked.
Goal! Slovakia leads 1-0 against Kazakhstan as Leo Sauer scores with a right-footed shot from close range into the bottom left corner.
Foul committed by Dinmukhamed Karaman of Kazakhstan.
Tomás Suslov from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Ramazan Karimov from Kazakhstan is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Dávid Hancko commits a foul for Slovakia.
Corner awarded to Slovakia after Temirlan Erlanov concedes.
Islambek Kuat commits a foul for Kazakhstan.
Tomás Suslov from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Slovakia is called offside. Ondrej Duda is the player caught offside.
Milan Skriniar from Slovakia misses an attempt with a header from the center of the box, sending it too high. The chance was created by Tomás Suslov, who provided a cross after a set piece situation.
Foul committed by Arsen Ashirbek of Kazakhstan.
Lukás Haraslín from Slovakia is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
David Strelec is caught offside for Slovakia.
Attempt saved. Lukás Haraslín's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the center of the goal by Stas Pokatilov. The assist came from Dávid Hancko.
Ramazan KarimovYellow CardRamazan Karimov from Kazakhstan receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul committed by Ramazan Karimov of Kazakhstan.
Milan Skriniar wins a free kick for Slovakia in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Ramazan Karimov of Kazakhstan.
Adam Obert from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Lukás Haraslín's right-footed shot from outside the box for Slovakia is saved in the top right corner by Stas Pokatilov of Kazakhstan.
Corner awarded to Slovakia after Stas Pokatilov concedes.
Corner awarded to Slovakia after a concession by Dinmukhamed Karaman.
Foul committed by Temirlan Erlanov of Kazakhstan.
David Strelec from Slovakia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Slovakia wins a corner after Arsen Ashirbek concedes.
First half begins.
Slovakia carry momentum into this League C clash after downing Moldova 2-0, while Kazakhstan arrive winless in three but fresh off a spirited draw with the Faroe Islands. With Slovakia sitting top and Kazakhstan just a point behind, an early result in the group is up for grabs in Košice.
