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Martin helps Slovakia stay in the hunt
Written by Rory Mitchinson
Martin Dúbravka played 90 minutes as Slovakia held on for a crucial 2-1 victory over Hungary in the race to qualify for Euro 2020.
Róbert Mak gave Slovakia a first-half lead at the Groupama Arena in Budapest, before teenager Dominik Szoboszlai beat Dúbravka with a fine free kick five minutes after the interval.
However, another youngster – the visitors’ Róbert Boženík – provided the game’s vital contribution before the hour mark, drilling the ball past ex-Liverpool ‘keeper Péter Gulácsi from the edge of the penalty area.
With World Cup finalists Croatia dropping points against bottom side Azerbaijan, the battle for Group E’s two qualification spots remains wide open.
Slovakia currently occupy the second slot and, with two of their remaining three games taking place on home soil, will fancy their chances of making it to a second successive European Championships.
Wales – semi-finalists in France in 2016 – trail Slovakia and Hungary by three points and Croatia by four, but have played a game less than any other side in the group.
Dúbravka’s side welcome Wales to Trnava in the next round of fixtures, while Croatia host Hungary in Split.