Albert Rusnàk is one step closer to qualifying for the Euros.
After a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes, Slovakia topped Ireland 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout to advance to the Path B Playoff Finals. Next up for Rusnàk and Slovakia is a matchup with Northern Ireland on November 12 in Belfast, with the winners advancing to the 2020 European Championship Finals tournament, which has been rescheduled to kick off June 11, 2021.
Rusnàk played 86 minutes for Slovakia, starting as a right wing, in his 25th cap for his country and first since November 16, 2019, due to Covid-19 postponements. Slovakia was outshot by Ireland 13-12, but each country put just three shots on goal in the match.
The shootout victory, clinched with a goal from Minnesota United’s Jan Gregus, puts Slovakia on the cusp of qualifying for the European Championships for just the second time since gaining independence in 1993. In 2016, Slovakia reached the Round of 16 in the quadrennial tournament and Rusnàk worked himself into the team in November of that year.
