Slovenia beat 10-mn Algeria to top Group C

POLOKWANE - Slovenia recorded their first ever World Cup victory to go to the top of Group C when they beat 10-man Algeria 1-0 Sunday.

Algeria had second half substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal sent off on 72 minutes and seven minutes later they conceded when FIFA Man of the Match Robert Koren hit a tame shot that bounced over an embarrassed Faouzi Chaouchi in the Algerian goal.

It was the second time in the tournament that a substitute had received his marching orders, with Ghezzal beating the previous record of 16 minutes on the pitch held by Uruguay’s Nicolas Lodeiro.

Ghezzal had been introduced on 58 minutes and booked a minute later. Then he handled Belhadj’s cross into the area and his second yellow card.

The match also saw another goalkeeper error with Algeria’s Chaouchi making a mess of the Koren shot which won the game for Slovenia - the smallest country in this year’s finals.

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane had left out his captain Yazid Mansouri, preferring Hassan Yebda and Medhi Lacen in midfield. Defender Anther Yahia lead the team out in Mansouri’s absence.

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek named Zlatko Dedic up-front. The Bochum striker had scored the goal that secured his team’s place in South Africa via a play-off victory over Russia.

After just three minutes Belhadj almost put Algeria in front with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area that Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic just managed to tip over.

Slovenia made a nervous start summed up when Dedic tried to play in Novakovic but over-hit his pass much to the striker’s frustration.

The Mexican wave that went around the only three-quarters full the Peter Mokaba Stadium said everything about the lack of clear-cut chances in the opening stages.

Slovenia were restricted to long balls into the box but Algeria keeper Chaouchi comfortably dealt with two free-kicks, first from Valter Birsa and then from Andraz Kirm.

Algeria were playing the better football with both Belhadj and Glasgow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra able to come out of defence confidently with the ball.

On 37 minutes they were almost infront from a corner with Rafik Halliche’s header from Karim Ziani’s kick going just wide. Five minutes before the break Karim Matmour blazed Belhadj’s excellent crossfield pass over.

But two minutes from the interval it was Slovenia who almost took the lead when Valter Birsa shot from the edge of the penalty area and Chaouchi tipped the ball over his crossbar.

The two teams were unchanged at the start of the second half but with Slovenia still looking punchless in attack coach Kek replaced Dedic with Zlatan Ljubijankic on 53 minutes.

With both sides knowing a win would send them top Saadane decided to make his first change just before the hour when Rafik Djebbour was replaced by Siena striker Ghezzal.

On 61 minutes Andraz Kirm started and almost finished a slick passing move that ended with him shooting straight at Chaouchi. Then captain Koren tried his luck from distance but failed to test the Algerian keeper.

Slovenia were the more threatening team now and Bougherra needed to make perfectly timed challenge on Novakovic to stop the striker shooting from inside the penalty area.

Substitute Ghezzal then had his first chance on 70 minutes when he headed a Belhadj cross over but that was to be his last positive contribution before having already been booked he picked up a second yellow for handball on 73 minutes.

Despite being down to 10 men Algeria were next to go close when Slovenia keeper Handanovic gifted possession to Karim Ziani and he just managed to redeem himself by smothering the chance.

But then Slovenia grabbed the winner when Koren’s shot from the edge of the penalty area on 79 minutes bounced just in front of Chaouchi before going in off of his arm.

Algeria now face England Friday in Cape Town with Slovenia playing United States in Johannesburg.