On a tense evening at A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia hosted Slovakia in a critical UEFA Nations League Group C1 encounter. With both sides looking to improve their standing in League C, this match promised excitement, determination, and grit. Slovakia, under the guidance of Francesco Calzona, sought to maintain momentum, while Estonia, coached by Jürgen Henn, hoped to leverage their home advantage. Ultimately, it was a closely fought battle that saw Slovakia edge out Estonia with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to a second-half goal from Tomáš Suslov.
Estonia vs Slovakia Head-to-Head
Historically, Estonia and Slovakia have not faced each other often, but Slovakia entered the match as slight favorites, having a more experienced squad and superior FIFA ranking. Estonia, however, looked to surprise their opponents with a strong defensive setup and counter-attacking opportunities.
Estonia vs Slovakia Lineups
Here is the Estonia vs Slovakia lineups today (Sep 5, 2024)
Estonia Lineups
Estonia lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Karl Hein in goal, supported by a solid defensive line led by captain Karol Mets. Upfront, Erik Sappinen and Alex Matthias Tamm spearheaded the attack, hoping to challenge Slovakia’s defense.
Karl Hein (Goalkeeper)
Rocco Shein (Midfielder)
Mads Schjønning-Larsen (Defender)
Mihkel Ainsalu (Midfielder)
Alex Matthias Tamm (Forward)
Rauno Sappinen (Forward)
Joonas Tamm (Defender)
Martin Miller (Midfielder)
Karol Mets (Defender)
Märten Kuusk (Defender)
Vlasiy Sinyavskiy (Forward)
Estonia Substitutes:
Marko Meerits (Goalkeeper)
Matvei Igonen (Goalkeeper)
Markus PoomArtur PikkKevor Palumets (Substituted on in the 69th minute for Mihkel Ainsalu)
Ioan Yakovlev (Substituted on in the 78th minute for Martin Miller)
Robi Saarma (Substituted on in the 84th minute for Vlasiy Sinyavskiy)
Markus Soomets
Henri Anier
Kristjan Ilves
Martin Vetkal (Substituted on in the 69th minute for Alex Matthias Tamm)
Slovakia Lineups
Slovakia, playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featured a well-rounded side. Martin Dúbravka started between the posts, with Milan Škriniar captaining the side from central defense. Tomáš Suslov played a crucial role in the midfield, linking up with the forward Róbert Boženík.
- Martin Dúbravka (Goalkeeper)
- Peter Pekarík (Defender)
- Adam Obert (Defender)
- David Hancko (Defender)
- Milan Škriniar (Captain, Defender)
- Stanislav Lobotka (Midfielder)
- Lukáš Haraslín (Midfielder)
- László Bénes (Midfielder)
- Ondrej Duda (Midfielder)
- Tomáš Suslov (Midfielder)
- Róbert Boženík (Forward)
Slovakia Substitutes
Marek Rodák (Goalkeeper)
Matúš Ravas (Goalkeeper)
Norbert Gyömbér (Substituted on in the 90+2 minute for Peter Pekarík)
David Strelec (Substituted on in the 65th minute for Róbert Boženík)
Denis Vavro (Substituted on in the 65th minute for Adam Obert)
Tomáš Rigo (Substituted on in the 83rd minute for Ondrej Duda)
Matúš Bero (Substituted on in the 83rd minute for László Bénes)
Lukáš Sauer
Samuel Tupta
Estonia vs Slovakia First Half: Cautious Play from Both Sides
The match began with both teams probing cautiously, neither willing to overcommit. Slovakia, enjoying more possession, managed to create a few early chances. In the 9th minute, Tomáš Suslov had the first meaningful shot on target, but Estonia’s goalkeeper Hein made a comfortable save. Slovakia continued to press, with Boženík testing Hein again in the 7th minute, only for the Estonian goalkeeper to deny him.
Estonia struggled to find a rhythm in the first half, with Slovakia dominating possession (57%). Despite several attempts, Slovakia couldn’t break down Estonia’s defense. The closest they came was when Ondrej Duda’s shot in the 57th minute rattled the woodwork. Estonia’s discipline in defense, led by Mets, ensured that they went into halftime with the score still at 0-0.
Estonia vs Slovakia Second Half: Slovakia Takes Control
The second half saw a more aggressive approach from Slovakia, who upped the tempo. Their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Tomáš Suslov found the breakthrough. After a sustained period of pressure, Suslov took advantage of a defensive lapse by Estonia and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net, giving Slovakia the lead.
Estonia responded with a series of substitutions, introducing Ioan Yakovlev and Kevor Palumets to inject fresh energy into their attack. They pushed for an equalizer, with Mets and Saarma getting close, but Slovakia’s defense, marshaled by Škriniar, held firm.
As the clock ticked down, Estonia grew more desperate, resulting in a flurry of fouls. Slovakia’s Dávid Hancko and goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka were both shown yellow cards for time-wasting and dissent in the final minutes.
Estonia vs Slovakia Stats
- Possession: Estonia 43% – 57% Slovakia
- Total attempts: Estonia 6 – 26 Slovakia
- Corners: Estonia 1 – 7 Slovakia
- Passing Accuracy: Estonia 73% – 83% Slovakia
- Offsides: Estonia 1 – 0 Slovakia
- Saves: Estonia 5 – 2 Slovakia
Estonia vs Slovakia Timeline of Key Events
- 38′ – Alex Matthias Tamm (Estonia) received a yellow card for a foul on Lobotka.
- 55′ – Slovakia’s Róbert Boženík received a yellow card for a foul.
- 70′ – Goal! Tomáš Suslov (Slovakia) scored to give Slovakia a 1-0 lead.
- 87′ – Denis Vavro (Slovakia) was shown a yellow card for a foul on Martin Vetkal.
- 90′ – Rocco Shein (Estonia) received a yellow card for a challenge.
- 90’+5′ – Dávid Hancko (Slovakia) was booked for a foul.
- 90’+5′ – Slovakia’s goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka received a yellow card for time-wasting.
Estonia vs Slovakia Full-Time
The referee blew the final whistle after 96 minutes, confirming Slovakia’s 1-0 win over Estonia. Despite Estonia’s late efforts to salvage a point, Slovakia’s defense proved impenetrable, and the visitors walked away with a crucial three points.
Estonia vs Slovakia Impact on the Points Table
With this victory, Slovakia strengthened their position in Group C1 of League C, moving up the table and increasing their chances of promotion to League B. Estonia, on the other hand, faced an uphill battle to avoid relegation and would need to regroup quickly to avoid dropping further down the standings.
Estonia vs Slovakia Man of the Match
Tomáš Suslov was undoubtedly the man of the match, not only for scoring the decisive goal but also for his tireless work rate throughout the game. His ability to find space and take advantage of Estonia’s defensive errors made the difference in a tight contest.
In a closely contested match, Slovakia’s persistence and superior quality ultimately saw them overcome a determined Estonian side. Estonia will rue their missed opportunities, particularly in the final moments, but Slovakia’s defense held firm to secure a vital away win. The result leaves Estonia with much to ponder as they look to bounce back in their next UEFA Nations League fixture.
