Slovakia remain perfect with Luxembourg scalp

• Group C leaders Slovakia prolong perfect record with victory in Zilina 
• Adam Nemec, Vladimír Weiss and Peter Pekarík goals defeat Luxembourg
• Victory maintains three-point cushion over second-placed Spain
• Next games: Slovakia v FYR Macedonia, Ukraine v Luxembourg (14 June)

Slovakia marched on in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group C as three first-half goals helped the hosts overpower Luxembourg in Zilina and make it five wins from five.

Coach Ján Kozák sent out an unchanged lineup from the one that triumphed 2-0 at FYR Macedonia in their last competitive outing and they picked up where they left off. Adam Nemec, Vladimír Weiss and Peter Pekarík all found the target in the opening period to extend the Slovaks' perfect record and leave the visitors stuck at the foot of the section.

Nemec, the man who scored Slovakia's second in Skopje, made the breakthrough this time on ten minutes, firing in after Ján Ďurica's rasping shot was repelled. The lead was doubled ten minutes later as Weiss collected a looping ball over the defence, beat his marker and slid low past Jonathan Joubert.

The hosts' pace dropped after that cushion was established and Luxembourg's Maurice Deville had a good opportunity from a corner but goalkeeper Matúš Kozáčik denied him on the line. The Zilina supporters urged Kozák's charges on and Pekarík provided more joy five minutes before the interval. A mazy run ended as he exchanged passes with Tomáš Hubočan before a neat finish inside Joubert's near post.

Luxembourg were out early for the second half but there was little change in pattern as Slovakia continued to dominate. A knock to midfielder Juraj Kucka gave 22-year-old Patrik Hrošovský his first competitive appearance off the bench. A crowd of almost 10,000 continued to roar their side forward and, if the chances dried up somewhat, both fans and team nevertheless left more than satisfied.