Slovenia surge sees off Qatar

Slovenia 4-1 Qatar
Four different players were on target as Slovenia overpowered Qatar, whose goalkeeper stopped a penalty from Robert Koren, 4-1 in a friendly in Maribor.

The Balkan nation's record of not having won a non-competitive international since defeating Hungary on 23 March 2008 was emphatically banished in the opening 45 minutes with Milivoje Novakovič, Boštjan Cesar and Andraž Kirm all on target. Although the visitors responded through Fábio César Montezine four minutes before the break, it proved nothing more than consolation as Bojan Jokić completed the scoring midway through the second half in Maribor.

Gathering for the first time since defeating Russia in the play-offs in November, Slovenia opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Novakovič beat goalkeeper Qasem Burhan from close range. Although Burhan limited Matjaž Kek's team to four with a series of fine saves thereafter, including keeping out a Robert Koren penalty, he was powerless to prevent Cesar from finishing off Kirm's assist on the half-hour mark.

Kirm was the beneficiary of Zlatko Dedič's pass four minutes later, before Montezine struck with a free-kick as the half moved towards a close. AC Chievo Verona defender Jokić was in the right place to score his first international goal midway through the second half after Koren's effort had struck a post.