Slovenia lose to Argentina, Estonia triumph
Friday, June 6, 2014
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International friendly round-up (8 June): Slovenia succumbed 2-0 in Argentina, while Moldova lost 1-0 to Cameroon and Estonia clinched a dramatic comeback win.
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08/06: San Marino 0-3 Albania
Albania recorded their second victory of 2014 and returned to winning ways following a pair of defeats thanks to a comfortable success in San Marino, in what was Pier Angelo Manzaroli's first game as the home team's coach since replacing Giampaolo Mazza. Mërgim Mavraj headed in a free-kick from the right with 27 minutes gone in Serravalle, and Armando Vajushi built on that opener with a second goal five minutes later, a powerful shot from the edge of the box which went in off the post. Emiljano Vila put the outcome beyond doubt for Gianni De Biasi's troops, rounding off the scoring with a splendid volley 17 minutes from time.
07/06: Argentina 2-0 Slovenia
Slovenia slipped to a second defeat during their South American tour after fielding a weakened team due to six players succumbing to food poisoning. Ricardo Álvarez struck first for the hosts in La Plata, burying a precise shot from 20 metres after Slovenia had lost the ball in midfield, and their second goal came via substitute Lionel Messi with 14 minutes remaining. Ángel Di María began the attack, picking out Sergio Agüero in the area, and the Manchester City FC headed the ball to Messi, who had little trouble doubling the deficit.
07/06: Cameroon 1-0 Moldova
Both coaches fielded experimental sides in Yaounde as Cameroon rested Samuel Eto'o and Moldova coach Ion Caras gave international debuts to Andrei Bugneac, Alexandru Leu, Alexandru Vremea and Mihai Țurcan. Cameroon enjoyed the better start and nearly went ahead after 19 minutes, when Pierre Webó's header hit a post. The hosts only had to wait another 11 minutes to break the deadlock, however, with Edgard Salli applying the finishing touch to Benjamin Moukandjo's cross from the left. Cameroon had several opportunities to increase the lead after the break, while Moldova's best chance fell to Bugneac, who fired over after Cameroon's goalkeeper could only parry an Anatoli Cheptine free-kick.
07/06: Estonia 2-1 Tajikistan
Magnus Pehrsson continued his squad experimentation, but Estonia went close to suffering their fourth defeat in the space of ten days. Tajikistan went ahead on the hour following a fine counterattack, with Dilshod Vasiev rounding off the move, and that looked like being the winning goal until Siim Luts took one touch to bury a superb shot from the edge of the area with a minute remaining. And there was still time for Hannes Anier to head in from Ken Kallaste's left-wing cross as Estonia posted a dramatic win, both their scorers notching maiden international goals.
07/06: Hungary 3-0 Kazakhstan
With Hungary coach Attila Pintér falling ill prior to kick-off, his assistant József Farkas took over the reins for the night and oversaw a comfortable victory in the last match ever to be played at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium in Budapest. Tamás Priskin opened the scoring when he stooped to head in from a corner on 26 minutes, and Kazakhstan's chances faded further when Valeri Korobkin was dismissed just after the hour. Roland Varga duly dispatched the resultant free-kick and a Konstantin Engel own goal in added time rounded off the result.
06/06: Brazil 1-0 Serbia
Serbia were unable to cause a shock in Sao Paulo as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by FIFA World Cup hosts Brazil, with former Olympique Lyonnais forward Fred getting the only goal of the game. In their final warm-up game before taking on Serbia's neighbours Croatia in the competition opener on Thursday, the home side struggled to break down the resolute visitors. Serbia threatened first through Aleksandar Kolarov's powerful effort while Aleksandar Mitrović headed a great chance wide before the interval. Fred prodded the winner past Vladimir Stojković on 58 minutes but Miloš Jojić struck the woodwork for the vistors while Jô responded in kind for Brazil in a hectic close.
06/06: Poland 2-1 Lithuania
New FC Bayern München signing Robert Lewandowski got the winner from the penalty spot with 11 minutes remaining as his Poland side came from behind to defeat Lithuania 2-1 in Gdansk. Despite coach Adam Nawałka fielding his strongest possible side, Poland endured a sluggish opening 45 minutes and found themselves behind a minute before the interval when Lukas Spalvis put the visitors ahead. However, the hosts were level on 59 minutes when AFC Ajax's newly-signed forward Arkadiusz Milik finished Kamil Grosicki's perfect low cross before Lewandowski was brought down in the area and converted himself with a powerful finish.