Slovakia scrape win over Andorra

Slovakia 1 Andorra 0

Slovakia edged out Andorra to keep pace in the race at the top of Group B.

Miroslav Karhan got the only goal as Slovakia were largely frustrated against the group’s whipping boys but did enough to take the three points that keeps them level with Russia.

Although it was one-way traffic throughout the match, Andorra goalkeeper Josep Anton Gomez stood firm to keep his side in it.

He was busy from the opening minute, as there were only seconds on the clock when Robert Vittek had the first shot, held by Gomez.

The goalkeeper then pushed Filip Sebo’s shot away at the expense of a corner, before Filip Holosko fired wide.

Vittek missed the target with a header while Robert Jez was wayward with a long-range effort, and Andorra made it to half-time without conceding as Gomez made another good save to keep out Sebo’s header in the 45th minute.

Andorra’s only chance came early in the second half but Marc Vales failed to find the target with a shot from the edge of the area.

Marek Hamsik saw his 57th-minute shot charged down by Emili Garcia.

The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Hamsik’s corner found Karhan who fired a shot into the roof of the net.

The home side continued to seek a second goal to make the win safe, but Holosko and Marek Cech both fired wide, while Gomez capped a fine display with a late save to keep out Sebo’s dangerous effort from the edge of the area.