Kazakhstan's national football team suffered their first defeat under the management of John van 't Schip. In the second round of the UEFA Nations League, the team lost away to Slovakia with a score of 1:2. The match took place in Košice at the "Košice Football Arena". This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
This defeat was the first for the Kazakh team under van 't Schip. In the first round of the new Nations League campaign, the team drew 1:1 away against the Faroe Islands. That match was van 't Schip's debut in charge of the national team.
Match progress
The hosts opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Leo Sauer put Slovakia ahead — 1:0. However, before the break, Kazakhstan equalised. In the 35th minute, Ramazan Karimov beat Martin Dúbravka's goal and restored parity — 1:1.
The decisive goal was scored by the Slovaks at the end of the match. In the 82nd minute, defender Dávid Hancko, after an assist from Ondrej Duda, set the final score — 2:1.
Goals: Sauer 26 (1:0), Karimov 35 (1:1), Hancko 82 (2:1).
Standings situation
After two rounds, Kazakhstan remained with one point. In the first match of the new Nations League campaign, the team drew 1:1 away against the Faroe Islands. Kazakhstan's only goal was scored by Temirlan Yerlanov after a corner kick delivered by Bauyrzhan Islamkhan.
Slovakia, in turn, secured their second consecutive victory and collected six points. In the first round, the team beat Moldova at home — 2:0.
Upcoming matches
Kazakhstan will play their next match on 2 October. Van 't Schip's team will host Moldova. Then, on 6 October, the Kazakhs will play at home against the Faroe Islands.
Thus, both upcoming matches will be played at home by the Kazakh national team: on 2 October against Moldova and on 6 October against the Faroe Islands. These matches will play an important role in determining the team's position in the group stage of the Nations League.