A draw between the United States and England opens the door for Slovenia to gain some control over Group C. First, the Slovenes have to get past Algeria on Sunday morning.
Late Goal From Robert Koren Gives Slovenia 1-0 Win Over Algeria, Group C Lead
Slovenia captain Robert Koren’s 79th goal needed some Green-esque help from Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi, but whereas Clint Dempsey’s Saturday goal was only worth one point to his side, Koren’s goal gives Slovenia three points and the lead in Group C.
In a match of few scoring chances, Koren put a speculative, 18 yard shot toward Chaouchi from near the arc. The open-footed shot did not have much power on it, but Chaouchi failed to move he feet to stay in front of the ball, and after a skid along the ground two yards in front of him, Chaouchi let the shot beat him to his far post.
Read Article >Robert Koren Gives Slovenia Late Lead Over Algeria, 1-0
Team captain Robert Koren has put Slovenia up 1-0 in the 79th minute against Algeria, and up a man after the dismissal of Abdelkader Ghezzal, Slovenia is on track to take the lead in Group C.
Koren’s goal was the result of poor goalkeeping from Algeria’s Faouzi Chaouchi, who saw Koren’s shot from the edge of the area brush off his shoulder before going in. Chaouchi appeared to misread the ball’s bounce, failing to get in front of the shot before it deflected off him and into the net.
Read Article >Algeria Down to Ten Men Against Slovenia After Abdelkader Ghezzal Sees Red
Slovenia and Algeria stay scoreless into the match’s final 16 minutes, but Algeria will close the match with ten men after substitute forward Abdelkader Ghezzal accumulated a second yellow card can was dismissed.
Ghezzal, who came on near the beginning of the second half, was giving a card early for pulling a Slovene jersey. Just after the 70 minute mark, Ghezzal w as called for an intentional hand ball, shown a second yellow, and became the tournament’s second player to earn an ejection.
Read Article >Slovenia, Algeria Reach Halftime Scoreless At World Cup 2010
When Group C for the 2010 World Cup was drawn, there were quiet fears of the type of soccer fans would see when a number of counter attacking teams faced each other. Sunday’s first half between Slovenia and Algeria brought all those fears to fruition, with the two Group C sides going to halftime scoreless after a disappointing first half.
The first forty-five minutes saw a lack of imagination lead to two sides playing too direct, straight into the opposition defense, as if trying to counter without a counter attacking opportunity. It wasn’t until half-way through the period that Algeria’s Nadir Belhadj started trying to work his way through the Slovenian defense.
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