The image will be quickly forgotten, the points will stay: Slovenia celebrates in Kazakhstan, Jan Mlakar scores a masterful goal to win the game

Published on 13. October 2024 13. October 2024

Photo: Facebook (Sportklub) - screenshot

After a high and painfully difficult defeat in Norway, Slovenia healed its wounds on Sunday during a late lunch while visiting distant Kazakhstan. In Almaty, its performance was once again not exactly dazzling, but the players under coach Matjaž Kek still showed enough to achieve their fourth consecutive victory over this opponent. Thanks to a goal scored by Jan Mlakar, the match ended 1:0 for the visitors, who overtook Austria in the B3 Nations League standings and caught up with Norway, although it should be noted that both teams have one match less, and their encounter will start at 20:45.

Slovenia can no longer be directly relegated

Slovenia will conclude the Nations League in November, first hosting Norway at home (November 14), followed by an away match in Vienna against Austria (November 17). It is worth adding that Slovenia can no longer be directly relegated to League C, as it has a six-point lead over Kazakhstan with two rounds remaining, having defeated them twice as well.

Slovenija — Photo: Vid Ponikvar / Sportida

A plethora of missed passes, disconnected and fragmented play, along with numerous solo actions that were already doomed to fail from the start. This is somewhat how Slovenia appeared in the first half of the match in Almaty, where despite this, they could have gone into halftime with a lead. That was not the case, as home goalkeeper Igor Šackij made two outstanding saves, denying Benjamin Šeško after a great cross from Erik Janža and Adam Gnezda Čerin after a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The two actions in which the home goalkeeper shone were the highlights of Slovenia’s play in the opening 45 minutes, during which Kek’s team again faced quite a few difficulties in defense.

Kazakhstan came closest to scoring in the 17th minute when Abat Ajmbetov tried a shot from nearly 15 meters, beating Jan Oblak, but instead of the net, it hit the crossbar. The Kazakhs, to be honest, did not pose much trouble for Slovenian captain, but they did threaten a few times as they walked dangerously through the visiting midfield and defensive line. The crossbar also rattled after a senseless mistake in midfield when Slovenia rushed forward, but instead almost conceded a goal.

Jan Mlakar with a real rocket under the crossbar and into the goal

Matjaž Kek made no substitutions at halftime, but had to make one shortly after the second half started. Vanja Drkušić went down to the ground; he had been struggling with a diaphragm issue for some time, and it was evident that it had finally let him down. Instead of the Crvena zvezda member, Kenan Bajrić came into play. The opening minutes of the second half did not suggest anything dramatic could happen in the match, but just when the lull was most evident, a flash occurred. A moment of inspiration. A masterpiece.

After a pass from Erik Janža from the left into the penalty area, Jan Mlakar got to the ball, surrounded by three Kazakhstan defenders, but still unleashed a powerful shot. He struck from 18 meters, delivering a true rocket, which left the well-prepared Šackij helpless. The ball grazed the crossbar and ended up in the net, giving the visitors a 1:0 lead.

It would be hard to argue that Slovenia completely took control of the game after scoring the goal, but in the 63rd minute, they had another excellent opportunity. Benjamin Šeško skillfully dribbled through the defenders in yellow jerseys and sent a low shot behind the home goalkeeper. However, it did not find the net, as the post denied him.

Until the end of the match, Slovenia relatively easily defended their hard-earned lead. Kazakhstan seemed to have apparent territorial dominance, but if we disregard the last minute when an awkward shot hit the upper part of the crossbar, Jan Oblak, hand on heart, was not seriously tested.