Coach Francesco Calzona’s team will definitely take the final second place in the 1st group and in March next year, he will play a play-off for promotion to “B”. The Swedes secured direct promotion to the higher division even before the final round.
The Slovaks could have taken the lead already in the opening minute, when Tomáš Suslov found himself in the tutovka, but he did not finish ideally with his weaker right leg. On the opposite side, striker Viktor Gyökeres showed his form and sent the Northerners into the lead with a quick shot to the far post. The same player could have secured a two-goal lead for the Swedes, but Martin Dúbravka made an excellent save in a separate escape.
Dávid Hancko was able to equalize in the 19th minute, but the “falcons” did not enter the second half. After three minutes, they conceded from Alexander Isak’s kick. Several Slovak players were troubled by health problems, Denis Vavro left the game in the first halfin the second part Ondrej Duda joined him and Hancko finished the game only with self-denial. The final rush didn’t even come, since in the 90th minute, captain Milan Škriniar stopped the running Gyökeres with an illegal tackle, and after the second yellow card, he headed to the cabins early.
On November 19, Slovakia is waiting for the final duel in Trnava against Estonia. The “Three Crowns” will welcome Azerbaijan on their home field.
SWEDEN – SLOVAKIA 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 3. Root, 48. Isak – 19. Hancko
ŽK: Hien, Gudmundsson – Dúbravka, Bero, Škriniar. ČK: 90. Škriniar (after the second ŽK). Referees: Balakin – Berkut, Matjaš (all Ukrainian), 36,417 spectators
Lineups and substitutions:
Sweden: Johansson – Lindelöf (26. Starfelt), Hien, Gudmundsson – Eliasson (75. Holm), Ayari (75. Karlström), Kulusevski, Saletros, Sema – Gyökeres, Isak
Slovakia: Dúbravka – Gyömbér, Vavro (41. Obert), Škriniar, Hancko – Duda (67. Rigo), Lobotka, Bénes (57. Bero) – Ďuriš (57. Schranz), Strelec, Suslov
The Slovaks burned a huge tutu just after thirty seconds of the game. The home team made a mistake in the pass and Suslov made his way through the center of the defense to the end, who did not hit the ball perfectly with his weaker right foot and headed outside the goal. Soon, Gyökeres found himself in a similar position on the opposite side, and the Swedish gunner opened the score with a shot to the far post – 1:0. The Swedes showed extraordinary offensive power, in the first quarter Gyökeres found himself on the run for the second time, who was caught by Dúbravka with his left foot. The Slovakian goalkeeper also hit a few seconds later after Isak’s shot. The guests held on in both moments, moreover, they were able to strike.
Gyömbér made a nice block in the right wing area, after his subsequent cross, the ball fell to Hancko, who fired a left-footed shot at the defender and tied the game with a goal post in the 19th minute. The game subsequently lost its pace, it was fragmented a lot and stoppers were injured on both sides. First, in the 26th minute, the home team’s Lindelöf finished the game, on the opposite side, Vavro slipped and was replaced by Obert. Ďuriš had a chance to score in the locker room, but after a back pass the ball went under his feet.
After the change of sides, the opening seconds unfolded in the attacking half of the Slovaks, but they quickly conceded again. In the penalty area, Isak made his way between the three defending players and beat Dúbravka with a sharp shot. Substitute Bero had a great chance to equalize in the 60th minute, to whom Schranz put the ball in the penalty area, but the Slovak midfielder finished inaccurately with a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Health problems also affected Duda, who was replaced by Rigo. In addition, the Slovaks used three substitutions in the interrupted game, so coach Calzono could not reach for another change. In addition, Hancko signaled muscle problems. The exclusion of Škriniar definitively ruined hopes for a final push and sent the Slovaks into a playoff for promotion.
