Algeria v Slovenia full time result
Algeria 0 Slovenia 1
Robert Koren's strike 11 minutes from time earned Slovenia a 1-0 win over 10-man Algeria, putting them top of Group C.
Slovenia captain Koren saw his 20 yard effort beat goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi - who should have done a lot better - in a moment reminiscent of England goalkeeper Robert Green's error in this group's other match last night.
Earlier, Algeria substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off for two bookable offences, the second coming after he bizarrely chose to handle a Nadir Belhadj cross.
In a poor match of few chances, Algeria's Rafik Halliche went close with a header in the first half, while Andraz Kirm should have done better for Slovenia when well placed.
Perhaps the Group C stands for "calamity goalkeepers", as Chaouchi's howler has all but ended his country's hopes of qualifying for the second round, albeit, they didn't exactly help themselves in that cause during what was a desperately poor game.
Both sides were looking to go top of the group after England and the USA played out a 1-1 draw yesterday, but neither possessed enough quality to break the other down.
Algeria had started on the front foot, and Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was forced to smartly tip over a Belhadj free kick, but early optimism quickly gave way to errors, as nervousness, misplaced passes and poor control let both sides down.
The Slovenians offered very little for the majority of the half, only forcing Algerian Chaouchi to punch away free kicks from Valter Birsa and Kirm.
Halliche did come close for Algeria, but his header from a corner went narrowly wide, before Chaouchi produced the highlight of the half, tipping over a powerful Birsa effort.
Algeria did start the second period on top, and Rafik Djebbour failed to control when in front of goal, Halliche was inches away from connecting with Belhadj's swinging free kick and Hassan Yebda's long range effort was comfortably dealt with by Handanovic.
Slovenia's lack of quality was laid bare, but they were slowly improving, and Kirm could only shoot straight at Chaouchi when well placed, before Koren blazed over and only an excellent last ditch challenge from Madjid Bougherra denied Milivoje Novakovic.
Substitute Ghezzal was causing the Slovenian defence a few more problems than Djebbour, the man he replaced, but after a shirt pull saw him booked within seconds of coming on, his bizarre decision to control a lofted Belhadj cross with his arm earned him his second yellow card. He had been on the pitch for just 13 minutes.
Now playing against 10 men, the Slovenians almost shot themselves in the foot when a lack of communication between defender Marko Suler and Handanovic almost allowed Karim Ziani in, but that appeared to be the wake up call that the European side needed, and Chaouchi allowed Koren's effort from 20 yards to beat him and find the corner of the net.
Bougherra almost profited from a late goalmouth scramble, but the Slovenians held on to win their first ever match at a World Cup finals.
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