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Russia suffer further setback with 2-1 defeat by Slovakia

Russia suffer further setback with 2-1 defeat by Slovakia

By REUTERS

Slovakia team pose for a photograph before their match in Euro 2016 at Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, on Saturday, June 11, 2016. Photo: Reuters

LILLE: Slovakia deepened Russia's woes with classy first-half goals from Vladimir Weiss and Marek Hamsik in a tense 2-1 victory in Euro 2016 Group B on Wednesday. Just 24 hours after UEFA told Russia it would be expelled from the tournament if their fans caused more crowd trouble, the Slovaks outplayed them for large parts of a match contested under a closed roof because of forecasts of heavy rain. Slovakia, after losing their opening clash 2-1 to Wales, took the lead in the 32nd minute when midfielder Hamsik hit a superb long ball to Weiss who cut inside the left-hand side of the box and curled his shot inside the far post. Just before halftime Hamsik picked up a short corner on the left and struck his own superb curling shot across the goal and inside the right hand post. Russia made the last 10 minutes intense with a header from Denis Glushakov but the Slovaks survived, leaving Russia with a point from a draw with England at the weekend when their fans were involved in violent clashes with opposition supporters.