Internet Desk: Marek Hamsik scored one goal and created another as Slovakia threw Group B wide open with a 2-1 win over Russia in Lille.
The Napoli midfielder ran Russia ragged, providing the assist for Vladimir Weiss to open the scoring before crashing home a stupendous second from a difficult angle.
Denis Glushakov pulled a late goal back for Russia but it wasn’t enough as Slovakia registered their first victory at a European Championships.
The result leaves Slovakia second in Group B on three points as attention turns to Lens tomorrow where England could leapfrog to the top of the group with a win over Wales.
Russia were unchanged from the side that grabbed a late equaliser in their opening 1-1 draw with England but failed to start with any purpose to their game.
Hamsik gave Russia a sign of things to come on 13 minutes with a rasping half volley that flew past the far post.
Igor Smolnikov surged forward at every opportunity from right back for Russia and his cross on 21 minutes was met by Artem Dzyuba but his header lacked power.
Slovakia were keen to hit the ageing Russian back-line on the counter and they opened the scoring via that tactic on 32 minutes.
Hamsik fired a 60-yard pass right into the path of Weiss, who had found space inside the penalty area. The former Manchester City man still had plenty to do but beat Smolnikov with a clever dummy before rifling an effort into the far corner.
Hamsik then doubled their lead in the 45th minute with one of the finest goals of the tournament so far. Collecting Weiss’ short corner on the edge of the area, he picked out the top corner with a blistering strike.
Russia introduced Glushakov for Roman Neustadter at half-time but it failed to trigger Russia into life as Slovakia were the much brighter side with the ball.
Chances were at a premium until Russia got back into the game with nine minutes left.
Oleg Shatov took advantage to curl a cross from the left towards Glushakov, from where he bulleted a header into the net from close range.
Russia continued to pursue a second goal but, amid growing pressure, Slovakia held out for an important win.
Admir Mehmedi’s spectacular volley denied Romania a first win at Euro 2016 as Switzerland snatched a 1-1 draw.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward crashed an unstoppable shot into the net to cancel out Bogdan Stancu’s second penalty of the tournament.
Mehmedi’s cracker prevented Romania from adding to their solitary victory at the European Championships, which came against England 16 years ago.
It leaves them with just one point from two matches, although with their final game to come against minnows Albania, they will still have high hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Switzerland, who won their first Group A game against the Albanians, almost took an early lead Haris Seferovic turned away from Vlad Chiriches in the penalty area and curled his shot inches wide.
Xherdan Shaqiri then put Seferovic in on goal again but his low shot was kept out by the feet of keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.
But Romania were gifted the lead after 18 minutes when Stephan Lichtsteiner pulled Alexandru Chipciu’s shirt in the area and Russian referee Sergei Karasev pointed to the spot.
Stancu, who scored a penalty in the opening night defeat against France, made it two from two when he sent Swiss keeper Yann Sommer the wrong way.
Switzerland came close to hitting back in spectacular fashion when Fabian Schar hit a dipping strike which Tatarusanu had to tip over the crossbar.
Romania almost doubled their lead when Switzerland failed to clear a high ball into the box, but when it fell to Cristian Sapunaru he stabbed his shot against a post and wide from eight yards.
Moments after the break Romanian half-time sub Ovidiu Hoban dragged a shot across goal before some fine defending from Johan Djourou in the six-yard box cleared Gabriel Torje’s dangerous low cross.
Instead Switzerland hauled themselves level just before the hour mark when a half-cleared corner dropped to Mehmedi, who lashed his volley past Tatarusanu and into the net.
Romania tried to hit back and Torje’s audacious attempt from 40 yards, with a free-kick from which everyone expected a cross, caused Sommer an anxious moment as he scrambled over to push the ball away.
But as Romania visibly tired Switzerland threatened a winner, but Shaqiri should have done better with a cross in the area which he had time to chest down, but instead launched himself into an overhead kick and scuffed the ball wide.