BRATISLAVA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Slovan Bratislava Sports Club has been eyeing the top ranking in the Slovak Fortuna Liga for some time now and managed to make the best of Dunajska Streda's surprising 0-0 draw against the last-ranked Pohronie on Sunday, although the former leader has played one match less as its fixture against Sered had been postponed due to coronavirus troubles.

Zilina managed to defend its third rank against Nitra, which fell two spots after a 3-0 defeat.

Duels between league leaders and last-ranked challengers tend to produce unexpected results, and the 13th-round match between Dunajska Streda and Pohronie was no different.

The home team was held scoreless in the league for the first time in eight months and paid a heavy price - losing two points and also the leading position to Slovan Bratislava.

The visitors, on the other hand, managed to earn their first points against Dunajska Streda after losing all their previous encounters.

Slovan Bratislava had it much easier and climbed to the top of the league after a 2-0 victory across the country in Michalovce.

Twelve players from the home team tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the game and made it very tough to resist the ambitious guests.

Slovan's Brazilian forward Rafael Ratao opened the scoring late in the first half and Slovenian striker Alen Ozbolt stretched the lead in the second half with a penalty.

Zilina Municipal Sports Club could have taken the lead in Nitra early on but Polish striker Dawid Kurminowski sent the ball wide from the penalty spot.

His Armenian teammate Vahan Bichakhchyan had better aim in the second half and put the visitors on the path to victory on his penalty attempt.

Nitra tried to rally but Kurminowski finally broke through, stretching the lead to two at the end of regulation. Zilina's substitute Jakub Paur made it 3-0 three minutes into extra-time, sending Nitra down two spots in the rankings to sixth place.

Elsewhere, Zlate Moravce moved up one spot to fourth place after a crushing 5-0 victory over Trencin.

The home team's striker Filip Balaj produced his second hat-trick of the season and, with 10 goals, leads the list of the league's top-scorers.

Trnava's 19-year-old midfielder from Nigeria Bamidel Yusuf scored his first goal of the season and his breakaway shot turned out to be the game-winner against Ruzomberok, sending his team one spot up in the rankings to fifth place.

FC DAC Dunajska Streda - FK Pohronie 0-0

MFK Zemplin Michalovce - SK Slovan Bratislava 0-2

FC Nitra - MSK Zilina 0-3

FC ViOn Zlate Moravce - AS Trencin 5-0

MFK Ruzomberok - FC Spartak Trnava 0-1

FK Senica - SKF Sered (postponed until November 11)

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