Pecnik goal against Russia keeps Slovenia’s World Cup hopes alive

MOSCOW - Two goals from Dinyar Bilyaletdinov looked to have put Russia in the driving seat for a place at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa at the expense of Slovenia Saturday but a late header from Nejc Pecnik leaves the tie still wide open at 2-1.

The Everton striker struck in each half in the World Cup play-off first-leg tie at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to put Guus Hiddink’s side in control but Slovenia rallied to net what could turn out to be a vital away goal through substitute Pecnik three minutes from time.

Slovenia started brightly in the Russian capital with a Valter Birsa shot looping just over Igor Akinfeev’s crossbar after taking a deflection but the visitors’ chances dried up as Russia slowly took a grip on the match.

Samir Handanovic needed to be at his best to deny Yury Zhirkov after 14 minutes, while the Slovenian goalkeeper also pulled off a fine save to prevent Sergei Ignashevich from scoring with a free-kick shortly after the half-hour mark.

However, constant Russian pressure eventually paid off five minutes before the break when Bilyaletdinov latched on to a Roman Pavlyuchencko pass before turning neatly in the box and rifling an unstoppable shot into the top left-hand corner.

The home side started the second half as they had ended the first with Pavlyuchenko going close and Handanovic once against stopping a Ignashevich free-kick before Bilyaletdinov made it 2-0 on 52 minutes, poking the ball home at the second attempt to net his third international goal.

Pavlyuchenko could have made it three for Russia with a header as Slovenia pushed forward in search of an away goal, which eventually came on 87 minutes when Akinfeev could only parry a drive from Rob Koren into the path of Pecnik, who headed home.

Incredibly, Pecnik almost equalized in added time but Akinfeev pulled off a stunning save to leave the tie finely poised for Wednesday’s return leg in Maribor.