Slovakia round-up: Slovan make most of Spartak slip

ŠK Slovan Bratislava claimed top spot in the Superliga with a hard-fought 1-0 win at MŠK Ruzomberok on Saturday.

Spartak held
Róbert Vittek grabbed the only goal of the game nine minutes from time as Slovan secured an undeserved three points to overtake FC Spartak Trnava, who drew 1-1 at bottom-side FK Laugaricio Trencín.

Ten-man Ruzomberok
Ruzomberok, who played with ten men for most of the game, gave Slovan a real test and were unlucky not to take the lead after just one minute when Peter Jurco headed a good chance wide. That proved Jurco's finest moment of the game, his worst following just eight minutes later when he was sent off for a tackle on Ján Šlahor.

Vittek the hero
It took Slovan most of the game to make their numerical advantage count as their own profligacy and the home side's compact defence denied them. And Ruzomberok, whose coach Vladimmr Rušnak resigned on Friday, were also not shy to attack themselves and Marian Kurty twice went close. In the end the extra man eventually told as Vittek managed to turn in a Radim Necas corner.

Fall rises to the occasion
Souleymane Fall spared Spartak's blushes as they came from behind to claim a draw against ten-man Trencín. Spartak looked to have the initiative when, after a tepid first half, home goalkeeper František Smak was sent off for handling the ball outside the area.

Spal opener
Yet the visitors failed to take advantage and were punished in the 63rd minute when, after Martin Fabus had served warning by hitting the bar a minute earlier, Vaclav Spal headed in the opening goal. The goal jolted Spartak into life and their equaliser came from Fall after a goalmouth scramble 15 minutes from time.

Inter bounce back
Capital rivals AŠK Inter Bratislava bounced back from last week's derby defeat with a 2-0 win over FK ZTS Dubnica, but it required late goals from Miroslav Drobnák and Marian Tomcak. Puchov got back to winning ways after their 6-0 thrashing by FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup in midweek as they overcame MŠK Zilina 1-0, Mario Breska settling a game which could have gone either way with a sweet strike from the edge of the area on the hour-mark.

Joy for Petrzalka
FC Artmedia Petrzalka eased their relegation fears with a narrow 2-1 home win over 1. FC Košice on Sunday. Petrzalka started the match at a frenetic pace, dominating possession, and they took the lead in the 18th minute when Štefan Maixner fired in from 15 metres.

Šuchanek seals it
The visitors pulled level against the run of the play on the stroke of half-time when Miroslav Sovic found space in the box to score from close range after a good run and pass from Jan Kozak. Petrzalka were not to be denied the win, however, and Ladislav Šuchanek sealed victory with a neat finish from juts inside the penalty area.