Slovakia pulled off a huge upset of Spain on Thursday, defeating La Furia Roja 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Miroslav Stoch. Paco Alcacer had pulled Spain even in the 82nd minute, but the home side responded with the match winner just five minutes later. It’s the first time Spain has lost a Euro qualifier away from home since 2006, when they lost 2-0 against Sweden.
Slovakia vs. Spain, Euro 2016 qualifying: Final score 2-1, Miroslav Stoch stuns Spain with a late winner
Spain suffered their first away defeat in Euro qualifying since 2006.
Clive Rose
Slovakia created the game’s first great chance in the 11th minute when Peter Pekarik got free on the right edge of the box and fired a cross that found Robert Mak in space. Mak’s bouncing volley effort was on frame and forced an excellent one-handed save from Iker Casillas to keep the match scoreless.
The home side got another chance in the 17th minute and this time they took advantage. After Sergio Busquets brought down Jan Durica 25 yards from the Spanish goal, Juraj Kucka stepped up and fired a curling free kick that caught Casillas leaning to his right. The ball went left, and while the Spain keeper was able to get a hand on the shot there was too much power behind it for him to keep it out of the net.
Spain's possession game tightened up in the second half as they limited Slovakia's time on the ball to virtually nothing, but the invisible wall in front of the net remained in place as well. Despite having the lion's share of the ball, Spain's last touch or final ball in the attacking third was poor, giving Matus Kozacik plenty of chances to end the pressure.
Just when it looked like Slovakia would pull off the upset, Paco Alcacer got in behind the Slovakian defense and directed a ball past Kozacik to even the match at 1-1 in the 82nd minute.
The home side did not give up, and in the 87th minute Miroslav Stoch got on the end of a lofted cross from Michal Duris. Stoch raced past his marker, getting free at the far post and heading the ball down past Casillas to put Slovakia back ahead 2-1.
Slovakia: Kozacik, Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan, Gyomber, Weiss (Duris 54’), Hamsik, Kucka (Kiss 83’), Mak (Stoch 62’), Pecovsky
Goals: Kucka (17’), Stoch (87’)
Spain: Casillas, Albiol (Pedro 58’), Piqué, Juanfran (Cazorla 81’), Alba, Busquets, Iniesta, Koke, Fàbregas, Silva (Alcacer 71’), Diego Costa
Goals: Alcacer (82’)
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