Tatran Presov played out a 1-1 draw with Liptovsky Mikulas in the third round of the Slovak Second League on Saturday. D. Suchy gave the hosts the lead in the 48th minute before A. Macejko rescued a point for the visitors with a late strike. It was a match decided by those two moments, with everything else falling into place around them.
The home side pressed high up the pitch for much of the contest, but it was Liptovsky Mikulas who came for a cross they never reached in the first half. By then, Tatran Presov had already made their move, and D. Suchy ended a barren spell from close range. The visitors looked uncomfortable until they found their rhythm in the second period.
Coaching staff changes came thick and fast after the interval. T. Stas and S. Chlepko were brought on together in the 57th minute, followed by D. Griger in the 62nd. Liptovsky Mikulas responded with Julio and L. Jendrek, while M. Regali completed the reshuffle for the hosts in the 79th minute. One mistake ends it, and Tatran Presov paid for a sloppy opening in the second half.
And here's the thing about the statistics — 10 shots on target for the home side, five for the visitors, yet the result tells a different story. Possession sat at exactly 50-50, which is as even as it gets. Tatran Presov had 103 attacks to 99, but the margin between them and the visitors was barely perceptible throughout.
The yellow card for T. Gerat in the 80th minute came when the game was already slipping away from Liptovsky Mikulas. They had opened talks about pushing for the win, but the captain dragged them through it instead. The incident went to review, but the referee had seen enough.
Tatran Presov sit seventh with 10 points from seven games, while Liptovsky Mikulas are ninth with nine. Both teams have three defeats in the process, though the visitors have three draws to show for their efforts. The line has barely moved since the first round.
