SLOVENIA: SLOVENIA DRAW WITH YUGOSLAVIA IN WORLD CUP GROUP ONE QUALIFIER

Record ID: 647105

  • Title: SLOVENIA: SLOVENIA DRAW WITH YUGOSLAVIA IN WORLD CUP GROUP ONE QUALIFIER
  • Date: 28th March 2001
  • Summary: LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA (MARCH 28, 2001) 1. VARIOUS FANS BEFORE GAME 2. VARIOUS FANS WATCHING BAR 3. VARIOUS FANS AFTER GAME Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th April 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
  • Country: Slovenia
  • Reuters ID: LVA32QPFZ4HJ50Q11LARUS3Z7HU0
  • Story Text: Slovenia salvaged a 1-1 draw against Yugoslavia in
    their World Cup group one qualifier on Wednesday thanks to a
    25-metre free-kick in injury time from their top scorer Zlatko
    Zahovic. The night also passed off peacefully despite warnings
    of crowd trouble.



    That gave Slovenia a share of the points after Savo
    Milosevic -- who ended the night in hospital -- had given
    Yugoslavia a 32nd minute lead, but they slipped down from
    second to third place as a result of the draw.

    Russia lead the standings with 10 points, followed by
    Switzerland (8), Slovenia (7) and Yugoslavia (5).

    Unlike their epic, thrilling 3-3 draw in Euro 2000 which
    saw Yugoslavia came back from 0-3 down with 23 minutes left to
    save the game, this was a rather lacklustre one played out
    mainly as a midfield stalemate. The one moment of note in the
    first half came after 32 minutes when Milosevic put Yugoslavia
    ahead from close range.

    Despite its lack of incident, it was a typically robust
    and pasionate derby which saw Milosevic and Slovenian defender
    Aleksander Knavs concussed. Both were taken to hospital
    overnight for observation, but doctors said there was no fear
    of any serious long-term injury to either player.

    Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec said afterwards: "I am
    happy with one point considering the fact that many of my
    players do not play much in their clubs. I was surprised to
    see the Yugoslavs play so defensively -- and so smart."
    Yugoslav coach Milovan Doric said he was satisfied with
    the performance of his team although they let in a last-minute
    equaliser.

    "Of course I am sorry about that, but I am not sad."
    Slovenia was the first country to break away from former
    Yugoslavia in 1991 and meetings between the two countries in
    sport are still rare and considered high risk events.

    Although Slovenian fans do not have a violent history
    matches against Serbian teams in pre-1991 Yugoslav league
    always kept Slovenian police busy.

    Despite the fears by police there was no major fan
    violence in the stadium nor in the streets before or after the
    match.


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