Slovakia round-up: Slovan tighten grip on title

ŠK Slovan Bratislava extended their advantage at the top of the Slovakian Super League to nine points with a 2-1 home win against FC Spartak Trnava.

Unexpected setback
Second-placed champions MŠK Zilina slipped further behind with a surprising 1-0 home defeat at the hands of AŠK Inter Bratislava, with Alias Ellery Lembakoali scoring the only goal of the game after 68 minutes to secure Inter’s first away victory of the season.

Slovan success
Slovan took the lead against Spartak in the closing stages of the second half with a goal from Robert Vittek, before a second goal from winger Ladislav Onofrej virtually secured the win after 71 minutes. Andrej Filip’s goal two minutes from time was not enough for Spartak.
 
Petrzalka falter
Third-placed FC Artmedia Petrzalka were also defeated, with second-bottom side FK Laugaricio Trencín earning a 3-1 success. Milos Jakubek headed the home side in front after two minutes, and Milan Ivana doubled Trencín’s lead early in the second half. Petrzalka halved the deficit almost immediately with an own goal from Trencín goalkeeper Frantisek Smak, but Czech striker Radim Krupnik’s third confirmed three crucial points for the home team.

Last-gasp winner
ŠKM Púchov moved level with Spartak on 38 points after a narrow 2-1 win against neighbours FK ZTS Dubnica. Púchov midfield player Ivan Belak opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but Dubnica drew level through Peter Kiska’s 36th-minute strike. Púchov were in control after the half-time interval, but it took until two minutes from the end for Peter Vavrik to score the winning goal.

Late rally
Meanwhile, two goals in the final three minutes from Roland Stevko earned MŠK Ruzomberok a 2-2 draw at home to 1.FC Košice, who had seemingly secured all three points with two goals from Marek Sapara in five second-half minutes.