Wales vs. Slovakia: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

Wales battled to a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their UEFA Euro 2016 opener on Saturday, putting themselves in an excellent position to advance to the knockout stages from Group B.

Gareth Bale gave the Welsh the lead with a wonderful free-kick early in the first half, but Ondrej Duda tied things up after 61 minutes. Both teams pushed for a winner, and it was substitute Hal Robson-Kanu who broke the deadlock with a bit of luck.

Slovakia will play Russia in their next match, while Wales can start preparing for a highly anticipated clash with neighbours England.

There were few surprises in the starting XI's for either side, with Bale and Marek Hamsik going head-to-head. Euro 2016's official Twitter account took a look at how both stars matched up:

Danny Ward started in goal for Wales, replacing the injured Wayne Hennessey, while Slovakia's starting XI was unchanged from the team that were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland.

Hamsik came agonisingly close to opening the score after just three minutes, gliding past several Welsh defenders after Bale lost possession. The Napoli man eventually placed the ball past Ward, but Spurs defender Ben Davies made a last-ditch tackle, saving a certain goal.

Bleacher Report UK's Karl Matchett was impressed:

So was former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand:

Slovakia goalkeeper Matus Kozacik barely got to a dangerous cross from Aaron Ramsey, leading to a frantic scramble in the box, but the ball eventually went out of play for a goal-kick.

NICOLAS TUCAT/Getty Images

Bale did not start the match well at all, but when Wales earned a free-kick from a long way out, the Real Madrid man showed his class, firing a perfect dipping strike over the wall and wrong-footing Kozacik to hand his side the lead.

Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe did not like Kozacik's effort to save the shot:

Slovakia appeared shocked to concede so early after their strong start to the match, and Wales took control after the goal. Michal Duris wanted a penalty after the ball made contact with Ashley Williams' arm in the Wales box, but the whistle had already blown for offside and a push from the forward.

Vladimir Weiss tried his luck from distance, but his effort flew well over Ward's goal. Juraj Kucka didn't fare much better, blasting a free-kick wide and over from a similar position to Bale's goal.

Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

Neil Taylor was lucky not to run into a booking―and even a red card―when he went over the ball and planted his studs straight onto Hamsik's foot, but for some reason, the official didn't even blow the whistle.

Per Tom Williams of Agence France-Presse, it didn't matter that he got a piece of the ball:

And more questionable officiating was on the way. First, Patrik Hrosovsky was handed a yellow card for a routine 50-50 challenge, before Martin Skrtel struck Jonathan Williams with an elbow while trying to shield a ball—a clear foul that should have resulted in a penalty.

Matchett thought it was a dumb move from the Slovakia captain:

Wales remained the better team, but chances were few. Hrosovsky had to make a late clearance to deny Taylor, who found plenty of success out wide, while Hamsik had a shot blocked after a period of sustained pressure from Slovakia.

Hamsik nearly found Skrtel with a high cross, missing the Liverpool man by inches, as Wales finished the half camped inside their own half defending the lead. Bale fired a curling shot into Kozacik's hands for the final chance.

JOE KLAMAR/Getty Images

Wales started the second half on the front foot, with Chris Gunter causing problems with his constant movement. Kucka got away with a harsh tackle on Williams early, before Weiss launched 
Robert Mak with a smart pass, but the forward fluffed his finish.

On the other side of the pitch, Kozacik made a spectacular save to deny Bale from close range, keeping his team alive.

Hassan Ammar/Associated Press

Slovakia made two substitutions, introducing talented youngster Duda, and the Legia Warsaw man needed just a few minutes to make his mark. Mak isolated the 21-year-old near the box, and Duda cut inside before finishing toward the near post.

Former England international Gary Lineker had to share this bit of info:

The goal gave Slovakia all momentum, and the team pushed forward in search of a winner. Weiss missed the target with a free-kick, and Ward just got ahead of Adam Nemec on a looping cross.

Wales were struggling, but Ramsey came close to reclaiming the lead for his team after good work from Robson-Kanu. The Arsenal man timed his header all wrong, however, and watched as his header cleared the bar.

Copa90 couldn't help themselves:

"

Ramsey fluffs a free header #WAL pic.twitter.com/80ed1DQBUU

— Copa90 (@Copa90) June 11, 2016"

Bale had another chance from a free-kick with 10 minutes left to play, but he couldn't lift the ball enough, watching it bounce safely into Kozacik's arms.

He made up for his miss shortly after, however, going on a surging run through the Slovakia defence before working it to Robson-Kanu, whose slow, angled shot dribbled past Kozacik and into the goal.

Per Bleacher Report UK's Jonathan Johnson, few cared how the goal came to pass:

There was even more late drama. Slovakia worked the ball around well to isolate Nemec, who found the post from close range with a header, and the team appealed for a handball and penalty in the resulting scramble.

Ramsey had a golden opportunity to put Slovakia away after Bale played him in, but the Arsenal man took too long to work himself open, allowing the defence to return and close down. Bale also tried his luck, shooting right at Kozacik

Mak was shocked the ball fell to him with minutes left to play, but he fired over, and late pressure amounted to nothing as the Welsh held on for their first win of Euro 2016.

Post-Match Reaction

Ward and Davies both took to Twitter to celebrate the win:

Wales already have one foot in the knockout stages following the win, as the four best third-placed finishers will join all of the group winners and second-placed finishers in the next round. While England remain the Group B favourites, Russia limped into the tournament carrying plenty of knocks, and the Welsh will be gunning for a win in their final group-stage match.

They'd love to beat England as well, but even a draw would be an excellent result for Bale and his team-mates.