Slovakia 3-4 Kosovo Player Ratings: Lukas Haraslin 8.5/10 Inspires Slovakia But Kosovo Pull Off Stunning World Cup Qualifier Comeback

Seven goals, four momentum swings, and a match that refused to settle until the very final seconds of stoppage time, this World Cup qualifier had everything. Slovakia looked to be cruising when Valjent's early header and Haraslin's stunning stoppage-time free-kick sent them into the break 2-1 ahead, with Kosovo's solitary response through Hodza doing little to dampen the home side's growing confidence. A second-half collapse of the most dramatic kind was the last thing anyone could have anticipated.

Kosovo were a different side entirely after the restart. Asllani's header levelled things within two minutes of the restart, Muslija's superb free-kick gave them the lead for the first time in the 60th minute, and Hajrizi's close-range finish extended it further in the 72nd minute before Strelec's late consolation added a gloss-reducing footnote. Haraslin was Slovakia's brightest spark throughout, his goal, his constant threat, and his relentless energy the one consistent highlight in a match that ultimately slipped away from his side in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable. Here are Sportsdunia's Slovakia vs Kosovo player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Haraslin was Slovakia's standout performer, and his 8/10 rating reflected a display that deserved to be on the winning side.
• Kosovo's second-half performance was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent World Cup qualifying history.
• Slovakia's inability to hold their lead will haunt them long after this result.

Slovakia Player Ratings vs Kosovo

Here are the Slovakia player ratings for the Slovakia vs Kosovo fixture.

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 5.0: A really tough night for the Slovak keeper. Conceding four goals at home is never a good look. He did make a couple of saves, one notably sharp stop in the second half, but he just seemed exposed throughout. He couldn't do much about the free-kicks, but the defense in front of him completely crumbled, leaving him with little chance of scoring on the other goals.

Defenders

Denis Vavro - 5.5: A very busy and chaotic performance. He made a massive seven clearances, which shows how much pressure the backline was under. However, he was also part of a unit that conceded four, committed several fouls, and picked up a yellow card. What stood out to us was his desperation at times, trying to plug too many holes at once.

Martin Valjent - 6.5: How do you even rate this? He scored a great header to give his team the lead and created another chance. But then, he was the center-back in a defense that was torn apart and he also got himself booked. The goal bumps his score up significantly, because without it, it would have been a very poor defensive showing.

Adam Obert - 6.0: He won an impressive number of duels and showed some good moments on the ball, even attempting several dribbles from the back. He tried to be proactive and get his team moving forward. Unfortunately, like his partners, he was ultimately part of a defensive shambles. You can't ignore the four goals conceded.

Midfielders

Ondrej Duda - 7.0: One of Slovakia's better players on the night. He was the main creative spark in the midfield, creating three key chances for his teammates. His passing was crisp, and he was always looking to make something happen. He worked hard defensively, too, but was fighting a losing battle against Kosovo's fluid attack.

Dávid Hancko - 7.5: What an engine this guy has. He was everywhere. He bagged an assist for the late goal, created another big chance, and even hit the crossbar with a header. His five shots show his intent to drag his team back into the game. We noticed he was a constant threat down the left, though he was sometimes caught upfield, contributing to the defensive gaps.

Matus Bero - 6.0: A hard-working but ultimately quiet performance from Bero. He put in a shift, made a couple of important tackles, but struggled to impose himself on the game. With the match being so open and chaotic, his steady presence was somewhat lost in the whirlwind.

Stanislav Lobotka - 6.5: The captain tried to dictate play from deep, completing a high percentage of his passes as usual. He kept the ball moving and tried to provide a base for the attackers. However, the game's frenetic pace seemed to bypass him at times. Kosovo's midfield was so direct and aggressive that Lobotka's calm control wasn't as effective as it normally is.

Forwards

David Strelec - 7.5: He looked lively all game and got his reward with a well-taken goal late on to give Slovakia a glimmer of hope. He was a nuisance for the Kosovo defenders, getting three shots off and always looking to get in behind.

Lukas Haraslin - 8.5: Clearly Slovakia's best player and our man of the match despite being on the losing side. He was simply electric. He scored a fantastic free-kick, provided the assist for the opening goal, and was desperately unlucky not to score again when his shot cannoned off the post. He was a constant danger and Kosovo couldn't handle him.

Leo Sauer - 6.0: It was a short and frustrating evening for the young attacker. He showed some flashes of intent but was forced off with an injury just before halftime. He didn't have enough time to make a real impact on such a wild game. It's tough to give him a fair rating given the circumstances.

Substitutes

Tomás Suslov - 6.5: Came on for the injured Sauer and looked busy. He was direct and tried to take players on, but couldn't find the killer final ball.

Lubomír Tupta - N/A: Came on late with not enough time to influence the result.

László Bénes - N/A: A late change with little time to get involved.

Samuel Mráz - N/A: Thrown on at the very end as Slovakia chased the game.

Manager

F. Calzona - 4.5: His team showed great attacking spirit, scoring three goals at home. However, his defensive setup was appalling. To concede four goals, especially in the manner they did, is simply not good enough at this level. He was tactically outmaneuvered by his opposite number and failed to get his team organized at the back. A very poor result.

Kosovo Player Ratings vs Slovakia

Check out the Kosovo player ratings vs Slovakia.

Goalkeeper

Arijanet Murić - 6.5: A strange performance to judge. He conceded three goals and had a moment to forget with an error leading to a goal. But he also made five saves, some of which were crucial to keeping his team in the lead. He was commanding on high claims but looked beatable from a distance. His saves ultimately outweigh his errors in a game his team won.

Defenders

Lumbardh Dellova - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular outing. He was strong in his duels and made six clearances. He got a yellow card and was part of a defense that looked shaky and conceded three, but he did his job reasonably well under pressure. He was one of the calmer heads in a frantic backline.

Kreshnik Hajrizi - 7.5: Scored what turned out to be the winning goal, which is a massive contribution for a defender. He was in the right place at the right time from a corner, showing great instincts. Defensively, he was decent, although he did pick up a booking. The goal alone makes it a great night for him.

Mërgim Vojvoda - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the defender. Providing two assists from the back is an outstanding contribution. He was a constant outlet, and his delivery for Asllani's goal was perfect. While part of a defense that conceded three, his attacking output was a game-changer for Kosovo. We were seriously impressed by his impact.

Dion Gallapeni - 6.5: A very solid defensive display. He won the majority of his duels and was a rock in the tackle, winning both that he attempted. He was disciplined and did well to contain Slovakia's attacks down his flank for large periods.

Albian Hajdari - 7.0: Got an assist and was a willing runner down the flank. He was let down by his finishing, however, missing a huge chance that could have made the scoreline even more comfortable.

Midfielders

Elvis Rexhbecaj - 6.0: A workhorse in the midfield, but he didn't grab the headlines. He did a lot of the dirty work, breaking up play and covering ground. His performance allowed the more creative players to shine.

Florent Muslija - 8.0: A superb performance. He scored a sensational free-kick to give his side the lead, a moment of pure quality. Beyond the goal, he was tidy in possession and created two chances for his teammates. He was a calm and creative influence in a hectic match, and his goal was worthy of winning any game.

Veldin Hodza - 7.0: What a wild performance. He scored Kosovo's first goal with a great strike from distance. But he also committed a staggering six fouls and got a yellow card. He was an absolute menace, breaking up play aggressively and driving his team forward.

Forwards

Fisnik Asllani - 7.5: Scored a vital goal with a well-placed header just after halftime to get his team back on level terms. He was a constant threat with his movement before he was substituted. He played his part perfectly, leading the line and getting on the scoresheet in a huge away win.

Vedat Muriqi - 7.0: The captain didn't score, but he was immense. He was a physical battering ram up front, winning duels, drawing fouls, and generally making life miserable for the Slovakian defenders. His hold-up play was crucial in bringing his teammates into the game.

Substitutes

Baton Zabërgja - N/A: Came on for the final 20 minutes but had little involvement.

Florent Hadërgjonaj - N/A: A very late substitute to see out the game.

Lindon Emërllahu - N/A: Brought on in the 90th minute.

Albion Rrahmani - N/A: Replaced the tired Muriqi at the death.

Manager

F. Foda - 8.0: An outstanding result for his team. He set his side up to be brave, direct, and aggressive, and it paid off handsomely. Scoring four goals away from home is a huge achievement. While his defense also looked vulnerable, his attacking game plan was executed to perfection and he deserves immense credit for masterminding this thrilling victory.

Man of the Match

Lukas Haraslin was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Martin Dúbravka was the worst performer.