Slovakia beat Angola 73:63 in a friendly match on Tuesday evening. The hosts saw off a well-drilled Angolan side to pick up a win that they needed after a difficult run of results. The scoreline reflected a contest where both teams traded blows but Slovakia found a way to close out the game.
Slovakia have struggled for consistency in recent months. They lost to Austria 71:74 last month before beating the same side 73:51 in a previous meeting. That inconsistency has been a theme — three losses in their last five outings against Latvia, Belgium and Spain. They needed to find a rhythm here, and the win over Angola gave them something to build on.
Angola arrived in Bratislava in fine form. They had won five straight, including a comfortable 70:43 victory over Mali and a narrow 74:73 win against Cameroon. But they were left flat-footed in the closing stages. The visitors have been scoring freely lately, but Slovakia's defence tightened things up when it mattered most.
The match itself was never in doubt for long stretches, but Angola never quite went away. They clawed their way back into contention on several occasions, yet Slovakia held firm when pressed. The hosts made the difference in the final quarter, pulling away just enough to secure the ten-point margin. It was a result that showed their experience against opponents who had been on an impressive run.
Slovakia move to four wins in their last six games after this victory. Angola's five-game winning streak came to an end, and the defeat will give them plenty to think about. The scoreline tells the story — a solid performance from Slovakia, but one that was never as comfortable as the final margin suggests.