A disputed goal two minutes from the interval proved to be the winner for Slovakia in yesterday´s friendly match in Zilina.

Adam Nemec appeared to have been in an offside position when he scored off a cross from the right, but the officials allowed the point to stand despite some protests from the Maltese players.

Malta had some regular players missing especially the injured Roderick Briffa, Alex Muscat and Gareth Sciberras.

On the other hand, Slovakia also included star striker Marek Hamsik of Napoli in their starting line-up. But he never appeared to be a threat as he was blotted out of the match by the Maltese.

Malta played a prudent match in the first half and their tactics seemed to be frustrating Hamsik and Co. until they finally found the opening to take the lead in the 43rd minute, albeit arriving from a dubious offside position.

Slovakia enjoyed a lot more possession in midfield, but were never really dangerous although on one occasion, it was Andrew Hogg who denied all-rounder Stoch, turning to corner his cross-shot.

The same Stoch then found the net in the 19th minute, but was rightly ruled offside.

In Malta´s first attack, Michael Mifsud´s shot was not far away from the target, while the best chance of the first half arrived Malta´s way in the 34th minute when Schembri set Mifsud in the area, but the goalie somehow managed to block the striker´s effort.

It was two minutes before the interval that Slovakia took the lead when off a cross from the right, it was Adam Nemec who flicked the ball home. Malta´s protests for an offside position went unheeded by the official.

In the second half, things did not change much as Slovakia penned Malta in their own half for long stretches.

But for all their possession, they were only able to test goalie Hogg twice, both central headers which were dealt with confidently by the Malta goalie.

On the other hand, Malta again committed itself to defence although on the 70th minute a Jonathan Caruana shot was blocked, the ball was cleared out, but it went back to Mifsud who advanced on the left side of the area, only to see his shot hitting the side rigging.

Coach Pietro Ghedin made use of the following players: A. Hogg, A. Agius, J. Caruana, R. Camilleri, S. Borg, P. Fenech, R. Fenech, R. Muscat, C. Failla, A. Schembri, M. Mifsud. Substitutes: S. Bezzina, A. Cohen, E. Herrera, B. Kristensen, R. Scicluna.