Slovan Bratislava and Zemplín Michalovce met at Tehelné Pole on Sunday evening, and the visitors left with all three points after a 2-1 victory in the Slovak Superliga's sixth round. Slovan had looked comfortable for the first half, but Zemplín found a way back into it and held on through a nervous finale.
P. Danek opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and D. Matsuoka doubled the lead just nine minutes later. Slovan dominated possession and territory, but L. Lemishko's goal in the 55th minute changed the character of the game. By then the momentum had shifted, and despite Slovan's attempts to respond, Zemplín's defence held firm.
The statistics tell their own story. Slovan enjoyed 79 per cent possession and launched 156 attacks, but their shots accuracy of 15 per cent meant they squandered their dominance. Zemplín, with just 21 per cent of the ball, kept their shots accuracy at 67 per cent — four shots on target from three attempts on goal, with one off target. They made 51 clearances to Slovan's six, and their goalkeeper made only one save because he rarely had to.
Slovan remain unbeaten in five, having won all four of their opening matches before this defeat. Zemplín, sitting ninth with four points from five games, extended their recent form with a result that will lift spirits in Michalovce. The hosts' perfect start now carries a shadow of doubt.
Substitutions began in earnest from the 64th minute as Slovan tried to break through. R. Cerepkai and S. Camara came on together, followed by N. Marcelli and E. Mashike. A. Gajdos and B. Cottrell were introduced in the 75th minute, while D. Matsuoka and P. Danek were withdrawn in the 79th and 82nd minutes respectively. The yellow cards — five in total — suggest a game that grew increasingly tense as the visitors defended their lead.