Slovakia 2-1 Macedonia

Slovakia remained three points clear of Spain at the top of European Championship qualifying Group C thanks to a 2-1 victory over FYR Macedonia in Zilina on Sunday evening.First-half goals from Kornel Salata and Marek Hamsik put the hosts in control and, although Arijan Ademi halved the deficit midway through the second period, Ferhan Hasani's late red card put paid to any hopes of an equaliser.It took less than eight minutes for Salata - playing in place of the Jan Durica - to make the breakthrough, the Slovan Bratislava defender beating the offside trap and nodding home from Peter Pekarik's headed assist after a free-kick had only been partially cleared.Napoli midfielder Hamsik deservedly made it 2-0 seven minutes before the break, latching onto Robert Mak's neat through-ball and coolly firing into the bottom-left corner.Both Salata and Hamsik had chances to add to their tallies after the interval, but failed to test visiting goalkeeper Tomislav Pacovski.And Ademi made things interesting in the 69th minute when he stabbed home from close range after Agim Ibraimi's corner to the front post had been nodded on by Muarem Muarem - the first goal conceded by Matus Kozacik in 260 minutes.Hasani saw red six minutes from the end, though, his foul on Tomas Hubocan deemed worthy of a second yellow card, and the 10 men could make no further inroads. ends