Slovakia vs Scotland. FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group F.
Stadion Antona Malatinskeho.
Wednesday 12 October 2016 12:14, UK
Scotland slumped to a 3-0 defeat away to Slovakia in their World Cup Group F Qualifier on Tuesday evening.
Robert Mak scored twice during the game in Trnava, firing home from a rebound in the first half before netting his second just after the break.
He then added an assist when his corner was headed home by Adam Nemec to round off the scoring with Scotland offering little in terms of a reply despite a dominant period after the opening goal.
Scotland slip down to fourth in the group after Slovenia picked up a point in a goalless draw with England, while Slovakia are in fifth with their first points of the campaign.
It took just over ten minutes for the two sides to find their attacking touch. Scotland were the first to have an effort as Steven Fletcher fired a header wide after a fantastic delivery from Robert Snodgrass before Jakub Holubek went for glory from 30 yards, forcing a fine save from David Marshall.
The hosts found the breakthrough in the 18th minute, though Steven Fletcher appeared to be fouled by Jan Durica in the build-up, allowing Holubek to race down the left flank.
His cross found the head of Marek Hamsik, whose effort at the back post was pushed away by Marshall and parried into the path of Mak to fire home.
Scotland reacted well to going behind and dominated for the much of remainder of the half, with Snodgrass forcing a fine save from Matus Kozacik before James McArthur headed just wide on the 30-minute mark.
Slovakia could have double their lead just before the break but were thwarted by some heroics from Marshall, who made a great leaping save to deny Mak a second goal before holding a Durica effort from the resulting corner.
The lead was doubled 11 minutes in the second half and it was Mak again who added to the Scots' woes. Hamsik slipped the ball to Hobulek on the left and he found the Zenit winger, who took a few seconds to tee himself up before firing home past Marshall.
Mak added an assist to his two goals in the 68th minute, curling in a fine corner, which Nemec met with a powerful header ahead of Grant Hanley.
Gordon Strachan introduced Leigh Griffiths, Ikechi Anya and John McGinn and Celtic striker Griffiths looked the most likely to nab a goal back for the visitors during the final half an hour.
In the 78th minute, McGinn played in Griffiths on the left of the box and he tried to tuck it home in the far corner, but it just skimmed the back post. He then raced forward to latch onto a pass, but goalkeeper Kozacik was off his line to stop him in his tracks.
The rest of the game passed without much incident, with Scotland three points behind England, who top the group. They meet at Wembley next month.
Teams
Scotland: Marshall, Paterson, R. Martin, Hanley, Tierney, Bannan, D. Fletcher (Anya 64), McArthur, Snodgrass, S. Fletcher (McGinn 76), Ritchie (Griffiths 64.
Slovakia: Kozacik, Sabo, Skrtel, Durica, Holubek, Kucka, Skriniar, Duris, Hamsik (Kiss 87), Mak (Svento 81), Nemec (Bakos 69).
