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Slovenia 1 Russia 0, agg 2-2, Slovenia win on away goals:
match report
Read a full match report on the World Cup qualifying
play-off second-leg game between Slovenia and Russia at the Stadion Ljudski
Vrt, Maribor, on Wednesday Nov 18, 2009.
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All too much: Slovenia's Zlatko Dedic (seated)
celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the crucial goal against
Russia Photo: AFP
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Slovenia qualified for only their second World Cup on Wednesday
with a 1-0 win over nine-man Russia in their European zone, second-leg
play-off tie.
Striker Zlatko Dedic, who plays his club football for Bochum in Germany,
scored the only goal just before the break.
He was fastest to the ball when Valter Birsa crossed from the right with
Russia's defenders caught cold.
Russia had won the first leg 2-1 in Moscow on Saturday, but Slovenia's
win on Wednesday meant they qualified on the away goals rule.
Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had scored twice in the first
match before Nejc Pecnik's goal two minutes from time gave Slovenia hope
for Wednesday's return leg.
After conceding Dedic's goal here, Guus Hiddink's Russian side suffered
another setback when substitute striker Alexander Kerzhakov was red-carded
for a foul on goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in the 66th minute.
Kerzhakov had only come at the interval to replace the ineffective Tottenham
striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Russia shrugged off the red-card to dominate possession in the closing
stages with Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin starting to impose himself on
the tie.
Arshavin set up substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak, whose header was well-saved
by Handanovic.
Yuri Zhirkov then had a fierce drive saved by Handanovic before Dedic
wasted a great chance to finish the game at the other end when he blasted
over the top with five minutes left.
Slovenia held firm to reach their first World Cup finals since their 2002
debut.
Slovenian coach Matjaz Kek started the game with the same team from Moscow
while Hiddink started with one change, bringing in Semak Janbayev as both
sides played a 4-4-2 formation.
In the forth minute, Milivoje Novakovic was one-on-one with Russian goalkeeper
Igor Akinfeyev before the danger was cleared before Andraz Kirm hit the
post.
Russia's opportunities were rare in the opening period and their miserable
night got even worse in injury time when Zhirkov was sent-off.
Telegraph.co.uk,
Nov 18, 2009
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