Slovakia's Stoch strikes late to end Spain run
A
late goal from Slovakia substitute Miroslav Stoch ended Spain's
eight-year, 36-match unbeaten run in qualifying and secured a famous
Group C win.
Not since a 2-0 reverse in Sweden
in October 2006 had Spain lost a qualifying fixture in either the UEFA
European Championship or the FIFA World Cup, and it looked like that
fate had been avoided when substitute Paco Alcácer cancelled out Juraj
Kucka's first-half effort with eight minutes left. Five minutes later,
however, Slovakia's own replacement Stoch converted a Michal Ďuriš cross
to clinch a memorable Slovak victory.
The first half was the
epitome of UEFA European Championship qualifying. Slovakia weathered
shrewd Spanish play, aiming to first avoid conceding before taking the
battle to the European champions. Iker Casillas's early save, remarkable
for his instant reaction from Róbert Mak's point-blank volley, made it
seem it might be his night – an impression shattered pretty promptly.
Although
Diego Costa's header shaved the post and Andrés Iniesta shot narrowly
past the other side of Matúš Kozáčik's goal, Slovakia suddenly led.
After a Sergio Busquets foul, Vladimír Weiss tapped the free-kick to
Juraj Kucka whose strike swerved beyond Casillas with the keeper moving
right and the ball going left.
Spain moved up a gear but
Slovakia's hard work gave them the edge, although before the interval
they needed two fine Kozáčik stops, first from Costa's header then from
Busquets's volley, to stay in front.
After half-time the home
custodian did equally brilliantly to divert good shots from Costa and
Cesc Fàbregas before repelling Costa again after the striker had broken
through. Kozáčik was finally beaten eight minutes from time, Jordi
Alba's cross to Alcácer proving deadly, and it appeared Spain would
escape with a point.
Slovakia, and Stoch, thought differently.
Substitute Ďuriš played a lovely one-two with Marek Hamšík on the right
before curling an ideal ball to the back post where Stoch nodded in to
crown a remarkable evening in Zilina.
