Slovakia defeated Moldova 2:0 in their opening UEFA Nations League match in Prešov. Goals from Ivan Schranz and Ondrej Duda secured the victory after a slow start, lifting the national team to the top of Group 3 in League C.
More than six thousand spectators filled the venue to watch the national team claim the three points, though head coach Vladimír Weiss admitted the performance required a stern wake-up call after the opening whistle.
Tactical Shifts and a Slow Start Against Moldova
The hosts struggled during the initial stages of the match. Sloppiness in midfield and loose passing allowed Moldova to create the game’s first real threat when Popescu missed wide with a header in the 9th minute. Adrián Strelec tested the Moldovan defense shortly after, but goalkeeper Dumitru Celeadnic denied his left-footed strike.
Vladimír Weiss stated that he was glad they confirmed their role as the mandatory favorites and won 2:0, noting that it could have been by a higher margin even though they started very bad, as the first twenty minutes were very weak on their part and they were feeding the opponent counterattacks which was not right.
Weiss implemented four notable changes to his starting lineup. The tactical gamble paid off immediately when Schranz broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, heading home from a corner kick delivered by Tomáš Suslov.
How Schranz and Duda Sealed the Victory
With the opening goal, the tension lifted from the home side. Just minutes later, Lukáš Haraslín was brought down inside the penalty area by Artur Iovu, forcing the referee to point to the spot. Ondrej Duda stepped up in the 38th minute and sent Celeadnic the wrong way to double the lead.
Ivan Schranz said that it was a difficult match and in some ways completely new, explaining that it was the first time he had played as a right-back, and while he had tried it a few times in a slightly different position at his club, it is still different in the national team, and he is primarily glad that the team managed the start of the Nations League.
In goal, Dominik Greif earned the nod over long-time starter Martin Dúbravka, preserving the clean sheet with an athletic save against Ion Fratea in the second half. Meanwhile, Tomáš Suslov excelled in a central midfield role alongside Stanislav Lobotka and Duda, hitting the goalpost with a long-range effort after the break.
Group Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
The victory places Slovakia at the summit of Group 3 in League C after the opening round of fixtures. The team has little time to rest before their next test.
- Matchday 2: Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan on Tuesday, September 29, in Košice.
- Matchday 3: Faroe Islands vs. Slovakia on Friday, October 2, in Tórshavn.
- Matchday 4: Moldova vs. Slovakia on Tuesday, October 6, in Chișinău.
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