Slovakia Edges Luxembourg 1-0 in World Cup Qualifier
Slovakia secured a 1-0 win over Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier. Rigo's late winner gave Slovakia a 1-0 win over Luxembourg in the World Cup qualifiers.
Slovakia's goal had a charmed existence, escaping further damage when Dubravka was beaten by a header from Tomas de Sousa...
Rigo's late winner secured a 1-0 victory for Slovakia over Luxembourg, allowing them to move three points clear at the top of Group A in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This win marked the end of a four-match winless away run for Slovakia.
Following their historic win over Germany, Slovakia faced Luxembourg, the lowest-ranked side in Group A. Despite being expected to dominate, Slovakia had to dig deep to secure the narrow victory, showcasing their determination and resilience in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite dominating possession in the early stages, the Falcons struggled to create clear-cut chances before halftime. They failed to register a single shot on target, leaving them searching for a breakthrough. This lack of precision in the final third hindered their ability to capitalize on their dominance.
The visitors' inability to create scoring opportunities gave Luxembourg hope. They nearly took advantage of this when Martin Dubravka's poor touch allowed Edvin Muratovic a shooting chance from inside the box. However, the Slovakia goalkeeper made a crucial double save, redeeming himself after his earlier mistake and denying Luxembourg an opening goal.
Luxembourg built on their momentum and came close to breaking the deadlock on two occasions before halftime. Danel Sinani was instrumental in both chances, first forcing Martin Dubravka into a smart save at the near post, and then curling a cross-shot against the post from the right flank. These efforts showcased Luxembourg's attacking threat.
Despite Luxembourg's encouraging display, the match remained goalless at halftime. This scoreline wasn't entirely unexpected, given that five of Luxembourg's last seven home matches had produced under 2.5 goals, suggesting a potentially low-scoring affair. The deadlock remained intact as both teams headed into the second half.
After the restart, Slovakia continued to build momentum, but the woodwork denied them again. Danel Sinani directed Aiman Dardari's cross against the post, highlighting the visitors' persistence. Despite their best efforts, Slovakia struggled to find the breakthrough.
Slovakia's goal had a charmed existence, escaping further damage when Dubravka was beaten by a header from Tomas de Sousa. However, the goal was ruled out for offside, giving Slovakia a crucial reprieve. This moment allowed Francesco Calzona's men to gain some momentum, but they still struggled to break down Luxembourg's resilient defense.
As both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages, attacking creativity was somewhat lacking. Slovakia's goalkeeper, Martin Dúbravka, was only required to make one notable save, denying a fierce strike from Olivier Thill. Despite Luxembourg's efforts, they couldn't capitalize on their chances.
Luxembourg's wastefulness ultimately proved costly as Slovakia landed a decisive blow in the 90th minute. Lubomir Tupta's powerful strike was parried by goalkeeper Anthony Moris into the path of Tomas Rigo, who tapped home the winner. This victory marked Slovakia's sixth win in eight head-to-head matches against Luxembourg. Luxembourg, meanwhile, was left frustrated, failing to score in their last nine out of 14 games and remaining bottom of the group without a point.
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