Late goal gives Slovenia first World Cup win

Captain Robert Koren snatched the soft late goal that gave Slovenia a 1-0 victory over 10-man Algeria on Sunday and top place in Group C of the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi should have saved a curling shot from outside the penalty area on 79 minutes, but let it slip into the corner of the net soon after striker Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off.

It was the first World Cup win for Slovenia after three losses in their only previous appearance eight years ago and will offer hope ahead of tougher assignments against the United States and England.

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek said that winning their first match would be celebrated accordingly.

“This is the first victory for Slovenia in the World Cup. We suffered in the closing minutes on the bench,” said Kek, who failed to win in his first five matches in charge before guiding them to the finals.

“That is not going to change our lives, but we will celebrate it in our fashion.”

Koren, who was named man of the match, admitted his goal had been lucky with the semi-artificial pitch surface coming into play as well as Chaouchi following England’s Robert Green into the limelight as a blundering goalkeeper.

“Even before the match, we had said that our target was to reach the second round, and this win will only boost our confidence in ourselves,” said the 29-year-old.

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane praised his players but conceded his side were still learning to compete at this level.

“There are only small details that can make the difference, that is the blatant truth at this heady level,” said Saadane. “My only regret is that we didn’t shoot enough, which I had asked my team to do.”

Among the crowd at the 46,000-seat Peter Mokaba Stadium in this northern city was former superstar Zinedine Zidane, born in Marseille to Algerian parents and a World Cup winner with France 12 years ago.

Warm, clear conditions greeted the outsiders in a mini-league pundits believe will be dominated by 1966 champions England and the USA, who drew 1-1 in Rustenburg the previous night.

A free kick in front of goal and outside the penalty area offered the North Africans the first chance and goalkeeper Samir Handanovic did well to tip over a Nadir Belhadj shot.

Chaouchi and Portsmouth midfielder Belhadj were fortunate starters for the ‘Desert Foxes’ as bans stemming from 2010 African Nations Cup red cards were dropped only this week by the African Football Confederation.

Chaouchi came to the rescue as half-time approached, acrobatically tipping over a dipping Valter Birsa shot as Slovenia moved up a couple of gears and also forced a couple of corners.

Hassan Yebda, a starter at the expense of off-form captain Yazid Mansouri and sporting peroxide blond hair, was at the heart of an impressive early second-half Algerian move that ended with a shot straight at Handanovic.

With no sign of a goal the coaches introduced new strikers, Ghezzal replacing Rafik Djebbour and Zlatan Ljubijankic coming on for Zlatko Dedic, whose goal eliminated Russia.

Halfway through the half and the game remained goalless although Italy-based Ghezzal was making an impact, getting on the end of several crosses only to be let down by high headers.

But the Algerian substitute did the ‘Desert Foxes’ no favours by getting sent off 17 minutes from full-time for a second yellow card after deliberately handling a cross.