Euro 2016

[monks data]

European Championship | Qualifiers

Oct 9, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Slovakia Slovakia
0-1
Belarus

FT(HT: 0-1)

Dragun (34')
Martynovich (65')

Match Report

Football

Ten-man Belarus defeat Slovakia courtesy of Stanislav Dragun strike

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter

Published: October 9 2015 | 20:39

Last updated: October 10 2015 | 22:01

Stanislav Dragun scores the only goal of the game to guide 10-man Belarus to a 1-0 win over Slovakia in their Euro 2016 qualifying clash.

Ten-man Belarus have dealt the Euro 2016 qualification hopes of Slovakia a blow with a 1-0 victory in their Group C clash.

Slovakia's Robert Mak (L) and Belarus' Maksim Bordachev vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 Group C qualifying football match between Slovakia and Belarus in Zilina, Slovakia on October 9, 2015. © Getty Images

Slovakia were the first to press forward and Tomas Hubocan could have given his side the lead when he latched on to Robert Mak's cross into the box, but he sent his header wide of the target.

Juraj Kucka came close for the home side when he headed an effort towards goal from inside the penalty area, only to see his attempt go just over the crossbar.

The visitors hit back with a decent opportunity as Nikolay Signevich directed his header from a cross into the box from the right at goal, but Matus Kozacik made the save to deny the forward.

Belarus took the lead in the 34th minute as Stanislav Dragun powered his header past Kozacik after latching on to Renan Bressan's pinpoint cross into the box.

Slovakia pushed to get back into the match in the second half, but Mak saw his left-footed strike sail past the post.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute as defender Alexander Martynovich was sent off for his second bookable offence, a poor challenge on Michal Duris.

Slovakia upped the ante late in the game as Hamisk and Miroslav Stoch went close with late efforts, but the visitors held out for their third win of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Jan Kozak's side now need to beat Luxembourg in their final match of qualifying to reach the tournament in France next year.