Ten-man Belarus have dealt the Euro 2016 qualification hopes of Slovakia a blow with a 1-0 victory in their Group C clash.
© Getty Images
Slovakia were the first to press forward and Tomas Hubocan could have given his side the lead when he latched on to Robert Mak's cross into the box, but he sent his header wide of the target.
Juraj Kucka came close for the home side when he headed an effort towards goal from inside the penalty area, only to see his attempt go just over the crossbar.
The visitors hit back with a decent opportunity as Nikolay Signevich directed his header from a cross into the box from the right at goal, but Matus Kozacik made the save to deny the forward.
Belarus took the lead in the 34th minute as Stanislav Dragun powered his header past Kozacik after latching on to Renan Bressan's pinpoint cross into the box.
Slovakia pushed to get back into the match in the second half, but Mak saw his left-footed strike sail past the post.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute as defender Alexander Martynovich was sent off for his second bookable offence, a poor challenge on Michal Duris.
Slovakia upped the ante late in the game as Hamisk and Miroslav Stoch went close with late efforts, but the visitors held out for their third win of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Jan Kozak's side now need to beat Luxembourg in their final match of qualifying to reach the tournament in France next year.
