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YUGOSLAVIA - Slovenia 1-1

Rudonja (left, SLO) battles for the ball with Lazetic

Belgrade, September 5 - Slovenia maintained their one-point cushion over Group One rivals Yugoslavia after a 1-1 draw in Belgrade and now look favourites to book a 2002 FIFA World Cup play-off berth.

The visitors took a shock lead after only ten minutes thanks to defender Zeljko Milinovic's powerful downward header from a Zlatko Zahovic corner.

Yugoslavia worked hard to get back in the match, but were unable to convert any of three good chances before the break.

Djordjevic's free-kick was not held by Slovenian keeper Simeunovic but the home attackers couldn't get to the rebound, Djukic was denied by Osterc's goal-line clearance and Savo Milosevic headed wide after good work by Kezman.

The home side came out with all guns blazing in the second half. It took Dejan Savicevic's side only six minutes to pull back the deficit and a memorable solo effort it was: Predrag Djordjevic scythed through the Slovenian midfield, played a neat one-two with Parma AC's Savo Milosevic and then applied the side-foot finish to cap off a great solo effort by the Olympiakos Piraeus FC man.

Djordjevic almost grabbed a second soon after, but Simeunovic saved well, while Milosevic and Mijatovic missed chances.

Acimovic went close with a free-kick for Slovenia, but their best chance fell to Osterc, who slipped just as he was about to shoot after a brilliant run.


Krstajiæ (left, YUG) and Osterc fight
for the ball

Veteran striker Predrag Mijatovic spurned a glorious opportunity on 64 minutes, his header proving off target from point-blank range. The 31-year-old AC Fiorentina hitman hit the post late on but the Slovenians managed to hold on and received a standing ovation from their traveling fans.

Both sides are at home in their final games, Yugoslavia take on Luxembourg, while Slovenia face the Faroe Islands. A win against over the Faroe Islands in Slovenia's match will at the very least guarantee a play-off against the Group Eight runners-up.

2002 World Cup qualifier, Belgrade, YUGOSLAVIA, September 5

YUGOSLAVIA - SLOVENIA 1-1 (0-1)

Scorers: Milinovic (10) for Slovenia, Djordjevic (51) for Yugoslavia. Attendance: 27,000. Booked: Jokanovic, Dmitrovic, Djukic, Gvozdenovic (Yugoslavia); Osterc, Pavlin, Karic, Gajser, Acimovic, Ceh (Slovenia).

YUGOSLAVIA: Kralj, Krstajic (Gvozdenovic 67), Djorovic, Jokanovic, Djukic, Dmitrovic, Lazetic (Stankovic 73), Mijatovic, Milosevic, Djordjevic, Kezman (Kovacevic 77)

SLOVENIA: Simeunovic (Dobanovic 80), Milinovic, Galic, Knavs, Ceh, Gajser, Karic, Pavlin, Zahovic (Acimovic 57), Osterc, Rudonja (Cimerotic 37)

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2002 World Cup group one - previous results: Switzerland - Russia 0-1, Luxembourg - YUGOSLAVIA 0-2, Faroe Island - Slovenia 2-2, Switzerland - Faroe Islands 5-1, Luxembourg - Slovenia 1-2, Russia - Luxembourg 3-0, Slovenia - Switzerland 2-2, YUGOSLAVIA - Switzerland 1-1, Russia - Slovenia 1-1, Luxembourg - Faroe Islands 0-2, Slovenia - YUGOSLAVIA 1-1, Russia - Faroe Islands 1-0, Switzerland - Luxembourg 5-0, YUGOSLAVIA - Russia 0-1, Faroe Islands - Switzerland 1-0, Slovenia - Luxembourg 2-0, Russia - YUGOSLAVIA 1-1, Luxembourg - Russia 1-2, Switzerland - Slovenia 0-1, Faroe Islands - YUGOSLAVIA 0-6, YUGOSLAVIA - Faroe Islands 2:0, Faroe Islands - Luxembourg 1-0, Slovenia - Russia 2-1, Switzerland - YUGOSLAVIA 1-2, Luxembourg - Switzerland 0-3, Faroe Islands - Russia 0-3, YUGOSLAVIA - Slovenia 1-1.

Group 1 - current standings

                  G  W  D  L    F-A   Pts
1. Russia         9  6  2  1   14- 5   20 
2. Slovenia       9  4  5  0   14- 9   17 
3. Yugoslavia     9  4  4  1   16- 6   16 
4. Switzerland    9  4  2  3   18- 8   14 
5. Faroe Islands  9  2  1  6    6-20    7 
6. Luxembourg     9  0  0  9    2-22    0 

Following matches: YUGOSLAVIA - Luxembourg, Russia - Switzerland and Slovenia - Faroe Islands (October 6).

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Earlier stories

September 1: Switzerland - YUGOSLAVIA 1-2
August 26: Yugoslav squad for 2002 World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia


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