Slovakia edge Andorra to maintain Group B pace

Slovakia once again share the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group B leadership thanks to a 1-0 victory – their fourth of the campaign by that same score – against Andorra in Bratislava.

The home side made an impressive start and could have gone ahead within the opening 14 seconds through Filip Šebo. As it turned out, they had to wait until the 63rd minute for the decisive goal, Miroslav Karhan proving the unlikely match-winner for Vladimír Weiss's side, who are level at the top with Russia and the Republic of Ireland.

Slovakia came out of the traps quickly and were close to opening the scoring straight away when Šebo's fiercely struck shot stung the palms of José Antonio Gómes in the visitors' goal. Moments later, Filip Hološko found Šebo inside the penalty area but Gómes was on hand again to keep the scores level.

Captain Marek Hamšík and Róbert Vittek also went close for the hosts who dominated possession but struggled to turn their superiority into goals. Shortly before the break Šebo resumed his duel with Gómes as the Andorra goalkeeper saved the 27-year-old's header from close range.

The breakthrough finally came just past the hour when Andorra failed to clear Hamšík's corner leaving Karhan to volley in his 14th international goal in 103 appearances for Slovakia. Gómes then denied Hološko as Weiss's charges eased to victory.

Neither side are in action again until September when Slovakia travel to the Republic of Ireland for what could be a potentially decisive match and Andorra host Armenia.