Midfielders Juraj Kucka and Robert Jez scored in the first half to help Slovakia beat Austria 2-1 in an international friendly on Wednesday.
Kucka's header in the 21st minute bounced off the post and hit goalkeeper Christian Gratzei's back before it went over the line. It was Kucka's first goal in 17 matches for Slovakia.
The unmarked Jez made it 2-0 nine minutes later though TV replays showed he was offside when picking up a pass by Filip Holosko.
Austria was without Marko Arnautovic - its top goal scorer in 2012 European Championship qualifying - and lacked efficiency in attack. The team created several good chances but captain Marc Janko was well marked by the Slovakia defense, while David Alaba and Martin Harnik saw shots go just wide.
Erwin Hoffer, the shortest player on the field, reduced Austria's deficit with a header from Florian Klein's cross in the 62nd, seven minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Hoffer saw a second goal disallowed for offside in the closing minutes.
''We have been fighting until the end but losing a match is never a step forward for our team,'' Austria coach Dietmar Constantini said. ''I have decided to work with a young team so we keep building on our future.''
Slovakia was without several regulars because of injuries, including Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel and forwards Stanislav Sestak and Robert Vittek.
Also missing was Miroslav Stoch, who was dropped from the team by coach Vladimir Weiss after the Fenerbahce winger had allegedly been pulled over for drunk driving on Sunday. Stoch was replaced by 35-year-old Miroslav Karhan, who played his 103rd game for Slovakia.
Midfielders Karim Guede of Slovan Bratislava and Roman Prochazka of Spartak Trnava made their first appearance for the team.
Austria will resume Euro 2012 qualifying against Germany in Group A on Sept. 2 while Slovakia plays Ireland the same day in a Group B match.
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Lineups:
Austria: Christian Gratzei, Florian Klein, Aleksandar Dragovic, Emanuel Pogatetz, Christian Fuchs, Julian Baumgartlinger, Stefan Kulovits (Daniel Royer, 46), Martin Harnik, Zlatko Junuzovic (Erwin Hoffer, 55), David Alaba, Marc Janko.
Slovakia: Jan Mucha, Peter Pekarik, Lubomir Michalik, Miroslav Karhan (Kornel Salata, 46), Marek Cech, Juraj Kucka (Roman Prochazka, 79), Karim Guede (Filip Sebo, 63), Vladimir Weiss (Igor Zofcak, 74), Marek Hamsik (Tomas Hubocan, 90), Robert Jez (Erik Jendrisek, 46), Filip Holosko.
