Žilina II edged past Malžanice 2:1 in the Second League's Regular Season round 5 on Sunday. The result keeps them in sixth place on ten points after six games, while Malžanice remain tenth with seven.
And here's the thing about this match — it felt like it could go either way until the final moments. Róbert Petruška opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute, giving the hosts a lead they would need to protect.
Malžanice levelled through a penalty in the fifty-first minute. A. Mojžiš stepped up and converted, shifting the momentum back towards the visitors. By then, Žilina II had already made a substitution, bringing on P. Priecel at half-time.
The match opened up after that. Three changes came in the fifty-sixth minute for Žilina II — M. Vaclavek, Róbert Petruška himself, and M. Prekop all went off together. The visitors added their own changes later, with M. Svoboda and J. Duchovic among those brought on.
What stands out is how Žilina II controlled the game without dominating the ball. They had 57 per cent possession and eight shots on target, compared to Malžanice's two. Both sides registered 89 attacks, which suggests a cagey affair where chances were at a premium.
To be fair, Malžanice didn't lack for effort. They won more throw-ins and drew more free kicks, but their finishing lacked precision. Only two of their shots found the target throughout ninety minutes.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time. M. Skvarka struck in the ninety-second minute to restore Žilina II's lead. The visitors had already accumulated four yellow cards by then, including bookings for B. A. Sowah, T. Sarmir and N. Gorosito.
Žilina II now sit two points clear of the visitors in the table. After five games this season, they've won three, drawn one and lost two — a pattern that suggests they're finding their rhythm at the right time.