Slovakia overcame a late Russian charge to record a 2-1 victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy earlier tonight.
Two moments of Marek Hamsik brilliance clinched a vital three points for the Falcons, while also putting a severe dent in Russia’s hopes of featuring in the knockout rounds.
The importance of the fixture was evidently weighing over the heads of both sides, with a cagey opening to the game broken just after the half-hour mark when a magnificent long pass by Hamsik found Vladimir Weiss, who confounded defenders before curling the ball into the net.
The Napoli playmaker would then take the spotlight for himself just before half-time, cutting inside the box and rocketing a strike off the post to give the Slovakians a comfortable buffer.
This would only last until the 80th minute, however, with substitute Denis Glushakov pulling one back from the Russians, who pressed forward for an equaliser until the final whistle. The victory marks Slovakia’s first win at the tournament as an independent nation.
Here are the best reactions to come from Twitter after the result:
https://twitter.com/OneSweetWorld89/status/743104052238651392
What a goal.
What a beast. #SVK #SVKRUS #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/Z0Y3v4Zv3s— Dan Talintyre (@dantalintyre) June 15, 2016
Lord Help us all, Marek Hamsik is utterly brilliant. #SLORUS#SLO#RUS #Euro2016
— Edo Dalmonte (@EdoDalmonte) June 15, 2016
Virtuoso performance by Marek Hamsik. Amazing pass for the first goal, incredible technique and finish for the second #SVK #SVKRUS #Euro2016
— The Football Hub UK (@FootballHub_UK) June 15, 2016
A moment of individual brilliance has won Slovakia that game. #SVK #SVKRUS
— Joe Fry (@Fry___Joe) June 15, 2016
Hamsik's already won celebration of the tournament #EURO2016 #SLORUS
— Riyaz Bhagat (@RiyazBhagat) June 15, 2016
Slovakia sat back most of the time and waited. Russia's crosses didn't deliver and when they switched off Slovakia made them pay. #SVKRUS
— Arsense Wenger (@wengersgame) June 15, 2016
I think "blows the group wide open" is the expression we're looking for #SVKRUS Congrats #SVK #EURO2016
— Outside Write (@outsidewrite) June 15, 2016
CONGRATS SLOVAKIA, great win and wonderful Hamsik goal, but Russia played poorly, very predictable, weak, clueless football #SVK #SVKRUS
— Chris Reiko (@ChrisReiko) June 15, 2016
Putin's tanks amassing on Slovak border after amazing Hamsik goal #SLORUS #EURO2016
— Richard Ferris (@Richard4Park) June 15, 2016
the attack of #Russia is more dangerous off the pitch than on. #EURO2016 #slorus #Slovakia
— piet (@pietjepsvpuk) June 15, 2016
Game Over. #EURO2016 #SVKRUS pic.twitter.com/j17LiTCYom
— Brendan McCarthy (@TaffMash) June 15, 2016
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