Slovakia round-up: Zilina seal title triumph

MŠK Zilina secured the Superliga title with a 2-1 win away to second-placed ŠK Slovan Bratislave in the penultimate round of matches.

Remarkable recovery
The victory gave Zilina an unassailable six-point lead at the top of the standings and completed a remarkable comeback after Slovan had led the table by eleven points at the midwinter break.

Early setback
Robert Vittek gave the home side the lead after 12 minutes, before both sides found themselves down to ten men, as Slovan midfield player Zsolt Hornyák and Zilina forward Michal Gottwald were both shown red cards within two minutes of each other.

Late turnaround
Richard Varadín equalised 13 minutes from time and, despite the fact that a draw would have been enough for Zilina to secure the championship, Marek Mintál scored a late winner, converting after he had been fouled by Michal Demeter in the penalty area, with the Slovan defender shown a red card for his efforts.

Petrzalka pounce
A bad day for Slovan was compounded by FC Artmedia Petrzalka's 2-1 win at home to AŠK Inter Bratislava that meant Petrzalka moved into second place, a point ahead of Slovan. Juraj Halenár gave the away side an early lead but Martin Mikulic equalised before half-time and Vladimír Kinder celebrated his last home game for Petrzalka before joining Austrian Bundesliga newcomers Untersiebenbrunn with the winning goal.

Two-goal wins
Elsewhere, ŠKM Púchov were 3-1 winners against relegated 1. FC Košice, with Jozef Mužlay, Mario Breška and Peter Vavrík all on target while Marek Sapara scored the visitors' only reply. FC Spartak Trnava won by the same scoreline away to MŠK Ruzomberok, as Vladimír Kožuch gave the away side a 2-0 lead midway through the first half and, although Roland Števko pulled a goal back, Marián Molnár sealed the result seven minutes from time. 

Two for Nemeth
Saturday's final game saw FK Laugaricio Trencín draw 2-2 at home to FK ZTS Dubnica, who took the lead through Czech central defender Martin Švestka. Two goals from veteran midfield player Peter Németh then turned the match in the home side's favour, but an equaliser from Pavol Straka earned Dubnica a draw.