Russia edge out Slovenia

Brave fightback 
Darko Krizman's men trailed 3-0 with just ten minutes to play in Caserta this evening but forced their way back into contention with two goals in a minute from Senudin Dzafic and Tomislav Horvat. However, the Russians raised their game and sealed victory two minutes from time.

Nervous team 
"It would not have been right if we had lost this match," said Russia coach Evgeny Lovchev. "The players were very nervous after yesterday's defeat and in the second half we didn't play as well as we did in the first half for some reason. But this is a very young and inexperienced squad."

Outside chance 
The win means Russia have given themselves hope of topping Group A, provided they can beat hosts Italy on Thursday. Slovenia have an outside chance of qualifying but must first beat the Czechs in their final group game and hope for an Italian victory against Russia.

Great Gorin 
Slovenia took the lead with a tremendous volley from Igor Nikolaev in the 15th minute. The influential Dmitri Gorin created the goal with a superb pass but Nikolaev still had plenty to do. Gorin, wearing his eye-catching orange shoes, was clearly in the mood.

Goalkeeper injured 
Slovenia goalkeeper Marko Pungartnik, a 19th-minute replacement for the injured Marjan Dermastija, was a key man in the Slovenian attack moving up to the halfway line to dictate the tempo of his team's forward play.

Russians rampant 
Pungartnik had to be careful with his goal unguarded but he was between the posts when Gorin moved through midfield on 27 minutes. Once the Russian No8 had brushed aside Dejan Simic and Denis Ibrismovic, there was only one outcome, 2-0 to Russia. Three minutes later it was three, as Serguei Malychev scored after a one-two.

Hopes raised 
Slovenia were not finished and could have pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Pungartnik, again acting as a fifth outfield player. They eventually scored through Dzafic, who did well to connect with the ball in the penalty area while falling down. Horvat then raised hopes of an incredible fightback with his side's second.

Sending off 
Fuelled by the quickfire double, Slovenia used the full width of the playing area to stretch their opponents. However, their chances were dimmed when Dzafic was sent off for his second yellow card. The Russians made the extra man count, scoring their fourth through Vladimir Grigoriev, who capitalised on an unguarded goal with a lofted shot from his own half.

Unlucky Horvat 
All was not lost as Horvat cut the deficit to one with 52 seconds to play. The Slovenian No2 will feel he should have scored an equaliser, which would have been his hat-trick, with eight seconds to play, first knocking a close-range effort on to the post and then just missing with a follow-up.

Good game 
Slovenia coach Krizman was disappointed in defeat but pleased with his side's efforts. "The public applauded our team right at the end because it was so exciting," he said. "So at least we provided a good game."