Galanta claimed a slender 1-0 victory over Malženiče in the second league's regular season round seven on Saturday evening. The result keeps the home side in eighth place with ten points from seven matches, while Malženiče remain in twelfth with seven points. It was a match decided by fine margins, as the statistics would suggest.
And here's the thing about this game — the only goal arrived late, at the seventy-sixth minute through S. Kovac. By then both sides had already seen plenty of yellow cards, with Galanta collecting four and Malženiče one. The visitors had been more active on the ball, holding 54 per cent possession, but it didn't translate into clear chances.
To be fair, the visitors did create more opportunities. They registered six shots on target compared to Galanta's five, and their attack count of 110 edges the hosts' 105. Yet the final tally tells a different story. Galanta managed seven corners to Malženiče's single corner, which suggests sustained pressure in the final third despite the possession deficit.
The substitutions came thick and fast in the second half. Galanta brought on N. Gorosito and J. Duchovic together at the sixty-eight minute, while Malženiče made their changes at the eighty and eighty-four minute marks. N. Bangs was sent off for Galanta at the eighty-ninth minute after picking up a second yellow, leaving the hosts to see out the game with ten men.
Galanta's recent form has been uneven, with three wins and three losses in their last five outings. Malženiče have not won since their 3-1 victory over Bytča on the thirty-first of August. This result means Galanta extend their unbeaten run to two games, while Malženiče's struggles continue in the lower reaches of the table.