Pedro Martinez Losa’s side had to endure searing heat, tropical storms and a lengthy second-half suspension in play that stretched to more than 40 minutes as they left Nitra with their European Championships campaign bolstered by another three points.
Claire Emslie netted both of Scotland’s second half goals, the first of which came just 30 seconds after the break when she slid in at the back post to connect with Kirsty Hanson’s delivery. If it seemed a just reward for a game that Scotland had dominated, there had been no hint of the storm that was to come; her second came after the game had been stopped because of the wild conditions. If it was a gift - a howler from L’udmila Matavkova who gave the ball away in the box and right in front of her own goalkeeper – it was duly exploited by the winger who calmly converted.
With water breaks necessary in the first-half given the searing heat – the temperature contributed to what was a fairly languid affair albeit that Scotland had enjoyed the better of the chances – there had been no indication of the tropical lightening storm that was to come. With the rain reducing visibility and the lightening deemed to be unsafe, the players were ushered off the pitch and into the sanctuary of the dressing room.
The resumption of play inevitably disrupted both sides although Slovakia looked to restore parity almost immediately. Patricia Hmirova netted off the outside of the woodwork after Maria Mikolajova had bent a ball in towards the back post, a move that could well have seen Scotland’s moment momentary lapse in concentration punished. As it was, Emslie punctured any hopes that Slovakia had of staging a comeback when she netted the killer second. It enabled Martinez Losa to turn to his bench and make the changes – and give Kirsty Howat a senior debut - with a view on the concluding game of the group on Tuesday night at Firhill against Serbia.
With a play-off route lying in wait this autumn as Scotland look to get themselves back to a major tournament by making the European Championships in Switzerland next year there will be tougher challenges ahead. Weathering last night’s storm, however, will have helped to prepare the way before Scotland discover their play-off fate on July 19th.
