Slovenia vs Kazakhstan: Can Slovenia Appear In The Euro Stage

The match between Slovenia and Denmark was narrow but hurtful 1-2. For a couple of chances, they could have booked the ticket for the EURO finals that will take place in Deutschland during the coming year. In addition, Matjaz Kek’s side has only picked up a solitary point thus far. It occupies the bottom spot in the league ladder with only nine points overall after their failure against Dukla Banska last night.

They are just a single point above Kazakhstan which is closing up fast. With only 90 minutes of qualification campaign remaining in their pocket, the equation for Slovenia is simple. All they need is not a defeat to reappear on the EURO stage for the first time after more than 2 decades.

However, the other side, Kazakhstan, whose players are less famous and renowned than other national teams, has had its best qualification cycles to the World Cup, Champions League, and other major international competitions since joining UEFA in 2002.

Taking advantage of Slovenia’s slip-up, Adiyev’s squad grabbed a straightforward 3-1 win in Samarino in Astana, making the gap only one point behind Kek’s second-placed side. Though they can fall back on their ‘Plan B’ that is UEFA nations league play-offs, the Hawks want nothing other than a win tomorrow to book a direct spot into Euro 2024.

Let’s take a look at today’s match highlights:

First-half begins!!

• In the 6th minute, Petar Stojanovic for Slovenia attempts an effort from outside the penalty area wide to the left. Andraz Sporar provides the assist.
• In the 7th minute, Abzal Beisebekov from Kazakhstan shoots with his right foot from a distance. The ball flies above and wide to the right. Islambek Kuat lends a hand on the opportunity.
• In the 11th minute, Marat Bystrov has fouled. A free kick was awarded to Erik Janza from Slovenia on the left flank.
• An unsuccessful header attempt by Jan Mlakar for Slovenia from the center of the box in the 12th minute. Petar Stojanovic offers the cross.
• In the 14th minute, Yan Vorogovskiy from Kazakhstan commits a foul. Slovenia’s Petar Stojanovic takes a free kick in the defense area.
• As for Kazakhstan, Serhiy Maliy made a foul in the 15th minute. Benjamin Sesko from Slovenia is awarded a free-kick at the left wing.
• Yan Vorogovskiy kicks a free ball in 16 minutes on the defending side. In this case, it’s Zan Karnicnik from Slovenia who has fouled.
• In the 18th minute, Nuraly Alip received a free kick in the defensive zone of Kazakhstan. Zan Karnicnik of Slovenia committed the foul.
• Islam Cheshnokov committed a foul in the 21st minute. Free-kick awarded to Eric Janza in the defensive end for the team of Slovenes.
• In the 22nd minute, an effort by Andraz Sporar of Slovenia is denied. It is a right-foot shoot from outside the box, assisted by Benjamin Sesko.
• In the 23rdminute, Jan Mlakar of Slovenia header inside the penalty center; nevertheless, the ball is too out on the right side. A cross comes from Adam Cesar after one of his corners.
• The free kick is awarded to Islam Chesnokov of Kazakhstan in the second minute (26). Adam Cerin commits a foul for Slovenia.
• In the 27th minute, Islam Chesnokov of Kazakhstan tries a shot at the top center in the goal area and misses. Islambek Kuat assists with an overhead.
• Islam Chesnokov from Kazakhstan had fouled in the 30th minute. Erik Janza of Slovenia is awarded with a free-kick on the left-hand side.
• In the 37th minute, Slovenia was awarded a penalty following Petar Stojanovic’s infringement in their penalty area. It was only a warning that Yan Vorogovskiy of Kazakhstan received for this foul in the yellow card. In the fourth minute, Benjamin Sesko, who was representing Slovenia, converted the penalty using his right foot and placed it into the lower right corner, making it one point for Slovenia.
• Petar Stojanovic is injured in the 38th minute, and the game has to be halted for some minutes.
• In the first half, Slovenia leads 1-0 over Kazakhstan before it ends.

Second-half begins!!!

• A free kick awarded in the 46th minute to Aleksandr Marochkin for a foul on Andraz Sporar by Slovenia occurs in the defensive half.
• He scores a right-footed shot from very close range in the 47th minute and into the bottom-left corner. Assisted by a cross of Maksim Samorodov, the result equalized, and it was 1-1.
• The 49th minute sees Petar Stojanovic of Slovenia fouling in.
• In another minute, Petar Stojanovic commits another foul for Slovenia.
• In the 49th minute, Islam Chesnokov of Kazakhstan tries for a left-footed shot from outside the box but is blocked.
• Serhiy Maliy of Kazakhstan commits a foul in the 51st minute. Benjamin Sesko from Slovenia gains a free kick in the opposing side’s half.
• In the 51st minute, Adam Cerin of Slaven attempted to shoot from the outer edge using his right leg, which led to a saving into the top left side by the Kazakhstan goalie.
• In the 52nd minute after the save, there was an infringement by Nurali Alip of Kazakhstan.
• Andraz Sporar (Slovenia) tried to take a shot at goal in the 55th minute using his right foot from a long distance to the right, and it was not possible due to being saved by a goalkeeper. Assisted Adam Cerin with the shot.
• Yuri Vorogovsky of Kazakhstan fouled in the 57th minute and gave the team of Slovenia a free kick towards the right flank.
• A right-footed shot by Miha Blazic of Slovenia in the 59th minute was blocked.
• In the 59th minute, there was a shot from the middle of the box by Jaka Bijol from Slovenia, which was off the mark.
• In the 60th minute, Islambek Kuat of Kazakhstan made a bad foul and got a yellow card after that blockage.
• In the 60th minute, the second yellow card was issued to Islambek Kuat of Kazakhstan due to a poor foul.
• However, in the 62nd minute, a second foul by Kuat of Kazakhstan.
• Finally, in the 63rd minute, Arman Kenesov substituted Islambek Kuat for Kazakhstan.
• Kazakhstan’s Islam Chesnokov earned a free kick in the attack area in the 66th minute. A disallowed offense was recorded against Cerin of Slovenia.
• In the 69th minute, Kazakhstan’s Ramazan Orazov tried a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty box but was saved in the middle of the target. Samorodov made a cross and assisted the shot.
• Islam Chesnokov for Kazakhstan had his effort strike the post in the 70th minute when he attempted a left-footed shot from outside the box.
• Benjamin Verbic replaced Jan Mlakar in the 71st minute for Slovakia.
• Timi Elsnik of Slovenia fouled in the 72nd minute.
• In the 76th minute, Petar Stojanovic of Slovenia attempted a right-footed shot from outside the box but was denied by a block. Bernard Verbic assisted on a try.”
• Maliy of Kazakhstan was booked in the 78th minute for unsporting behavior.
• In the 80th minute, Kazakhstan substituted Ivan Sviridov for Islam Chesnokov and Erkin Tapalov for Abzal Beisebekov.
• The missed attempt after the header in the 82nd minute by Ivan Sviridov of Kazakhstan at the center of the box. With just that, with a cross from Erkin Tapalov, he tried to help it.
• Ramazan Orazov (Kazakhstan) fouled in the 83rd minute, and Jaka Bijol (Slovenia) fouled in the same period.
• In the 85th minute, Benjaamin Verbics from Slovenia hit a goal Slovenia 2 – Kazakhstan 1. It was a right-footed shot from the left side of the box assisted by Petar Stojanovic and an end-of-break attack.
• A yellow card was shown to Benjamin Verbic of Slovenia in the 85^{th} minute for excess celebrating.
• Slovenia made some substitutions in the 86th minute, replacing Jasmin Kurtic for Andraz Sporar and Vanja Drkusic for Erik Janza.
• Nuraly Alip of Kazakhstan fouled in the 89th minute and got a warning (yellow).
• In his 90th minute, Erkin Tapalov of Kazakhstan committed a foul on his opponent (Timi Elsnik).

Kazakhstan lost in an eventful match that ended with the final results of Slovenia 2 – Kazakhstan 1.