Ivan Schranz scored Slovakia’s quickest purpose at a serious event to take his facet to a gritty upset 1-0 victory over wasteful Belgium in European Championship Group E on Monday.
It was Belgium’s first loss in 16 video games underneath coach Domenico Tedesco and a flashback to their disastrous 2022 World Cup marketing campaign, though they did have two targets dominated out by VAR.
Each have been from the boot of Romelu Lukaku, the primary for offside and the second a handball within the build-up on a vastly irritating day for the burly striker through which he additionally missed a number of clear-cut probabilities.
Slovakia joined Romania on the prime of the standings after their 3-0 win over Ukraine in Munich earlier on Monday. Belgium subsequent meet Romania in Cologne on Saturday.
There had been speak earlier than the sport of this being a brand new Belgium, disposing of the Golden Era tag and full of younger expertise, however the identical issues persist.
Tedesco’s facet dominated the 90 minutes, however lacked a medical contact and after they did discover it they have been denied by the VAR and scrambling Slovakia defence.
Belgium have been with out their most popular central defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate and with left winger Jeremy Doku taking part in on the suitable within the first half and Yannick Carrasco as a left wing again, there was an absence of stability to the group.
It was that uncertainty that led to Slovakia’s opener as Doku’s poor ball into his personal field was not handled by the defence and when Juraj Kucka’s effort was saved, the ball fell to Schranz who beat Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels from a good angle with a purpose timed at six minutes and 5 seconds.
Belgium will really feel they need to have been 1-0 up by then as Lukaku was foiled from point-blank vary by Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after Doku’s mesmerising run from his personal half.
That was the primary of three large probabilities within the half for Lukaku, who had scored 17 targets in 11 video games underneath Tedesco.
Slovakia had alternatives too. Casteels needed to make an excellent diving save from Lukas Haraslin’s glorious volley, and so they confirmed glorious defensive self-discipline as each deal with was celebrated by the Slovak gamers as if that they had scored a purpose.
Belgium got here shut once more when a goalmouth scramble ended with substitute Johan Bakayoko taking pictures for what appeared a sure purpose, just for Slovakia defender David Hancko to clear the ball off the road.
They have been denied once more when Lois Openda dealt with the ball after his persistence of the left-hand facet had arrange Lukaku.
