Slovakia kicked off Euro 2020 Group E with a surprise win over a Poland side that finished the game with only 10 players in St Petersburg.
Slovakia bossed the first half and were fully deserving of a half-time lead after Robert Mak’s shot ricocheted off the post, onto the back of Wojciech Szczesny into the net. But Poland struck back almost immediately after the interval and were in the ascendancy for around 15 minutes until Grzegorz Krychowiak was sent off for two yellow cards.
The red card changed the course of the game, shifting the power back to Slovakia. Milan Skriniar then drilled in the winner at a corner.
Here’s a look at how both sets of players fared.
Wojciech Szczesny (GK) 5/10: Beaten too easily at the near post, although he was then a little unlucky that the ball ricocheted off his back into the net. Not a lot to do despite conceding twice.
Bartosz Berezynski (CB) 5/10: Allowed Mak to escape when he should have been pinned in a wide area.
Kamil Glik (CB) 6/10: Struggled without having a proper ‘number nine’ to face up against.
Jan Bednarek (CB) 6/10: Narrowly missed a late chance to equalise.
Kamil Jozwiak (RM) 5/10: Disappointing in the first half, although he did improve.
Karol Linetty (CM) 6/10: Awoke from a disappointing first half to score the equaliser and was much livelier for a 15-minute period thereafter.
Grzegorz Krychowiak (DM) 4/10: Struggled to get a foothold in the first half as Slovakia overran the midfield. Sent off at the hour mark for two yellow cards.
Mateusz Klich (CM) 6/10: Involved in Poland’s equaliser and was among the better of his team’s players.
Maciej Rybus (LM) 6/10: Quiet in the first half but provided the assist for the equaliser and was briefly a threat until Poland were reduced to 10 men.
Piotr Zielinski (ST) 5/10: Saw a reasonable amount of the ball but didn’t do enough with it.
Robert Lewandowski (ST) 5/10: Starved of meaningful service means his poor goal record at international tournaments continues.
Przemyslaw Frankowski 6/10
Tymoteusz Puchacz 6/10
Jakub Moder N/A
Karol Swiderski N/A
Martin Dubravka (GK) 6/10: Didn’t have a great amount to do for most of the game.
Peter Pekarik (RB) 7/10: Got forward well, particularly in the first half.
Lubomir Satka (CB) 7/10: Helped cut off the supply line to Lewandowski.
Milan Skriniar (CB) 7/10: Scored a rare international goal with a pinpoint drilled finish.
Tomas Hubocan (LB) 7/10: Completed an impressive back four for Slovakia.
Juaraj Kucka (CM) 7/10: Combative performance from the veteran. Also had decent chances.
Jakub Hromada (CM) 6/10: Helped Slovakia gain the upper hand in midfield.
Marek Hamsik (AM) 7/10: Heavily involved in his team’s attacking play.
Lukas Haraslin (RW) 6/10: Gave his team good attacking options.
Ondrej Duda (ST) 8/10: His movement in a false nine-type role caused Poland’s back three problems.
Robert Mak (LW) 7/10: Wriggled free of two defenders to cause the opening goal and was always a threat wide on the left.
Patrik Hrosovsky 6/10
Martin Koscelnik 6/10
Michal Duris N/A
Tomas Suslov N/A
Jan Gregus N/A
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