Euro 2024 – Slovenia-Serbia 1-1: Karnicnik deceives Kek’s band in the 69th minute. In the 96th minute Jovic’s header arrives

A very exciting “ex Jugo” derby ends 1-1. Slovenia scares Serbia with a goal from Karnicnik in the 69th minute and comes close to qualifying (first and historic) early for the round of 16, but has to surrender at the last gasp to the gore of AC Milan player Jovic, capable of scoring into the corner following a precise assist from the flag of Torino midfielder Ivan Ilic. In group C, waiting for Denmark (1)-England (3), Slovenia which rises to 2 points, Serbia which remains in the running at 1.

Slovenia (4-4-2): Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic (77′ Verbic), Cerin, Elsnik (90’+1 Brekalo), Mlakar (63′ Gorenc-Stankovc); Sporar, Sesko (76′ Vipotnik). Ct. Kek.

Serbia (3-4-1-2): Rajkovic, Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic (81′ Birmancevic), Ilic, Lukic (64′ S. Milinkovic-Savic), Mladenovic (46′ Gacinovic); Tadic (82′ Samardzic); Mitrovic, Vlahovic (64′ Jovic). Ct. Stojkovic.

Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania).

Goals: 69′ Karnicnik (Sl), 90’+6 Jovic (Se).

Assists: Elsnik (SL, 1-0), Ilic (SE, 1-1).

Note – Cooldown: 1+6. Booked: Mladenovic, Lukic, Janza, Jovic, Gacinovic, Vipotnik.

8′ – MLAKAR! The Slovenian winger from Pisa concludes with a powerful right diagonal: great intervention with his feet in the rebound from Rajkovic!

32′ – MITROVIC grazes the post with his head! Ball placed in the center of the six yard area from Tadic’s corner: Serbia close to the lead!

38′ – SLOVENIA’S SOUNDING POST! Fireball with the right by Elsnik and the ball on the upright to Rajkovic beaten. Then Sesko’s close-range shot, in the center of the area, ends up high over the crossbar!

42′ – MITROVIC TWO STEPS FOR SERBIA! Conclusion with the tip, as in five-a-side football, by the Al-Hilal striker: powerful screen by Oblak!

43′ – LUKIC ON THE BALL KICKED AWAY FROM BIJOL! Elsnik shields himself from Oblak!

47′ – TADIC IN FOR MITROVIC! The Serbian striker’s soft touch is blocked once again by Oblak!

49′ – BIJOL SVIRGOLA WITH HIS SHANK AND MATCHES THE OWN GOAL from Gacinovic’s curling cross from the left!

58′ – SESKO FROM OUTSIDE! Extremely insidious right-footed shot: Rajkovic shoots high over the crossbar!

69′ – SLOVENIA GOAL WITH KARNICNIK! The Celje right-back recovers the ball in defense from Gacinovic’s poor control, widens on the left for Elsnik, who is able to return it to him with a nice cross, which is scored in front of goal with a somewhat chewed but effective conclusion: 1-0!

72′ – MITROVIC CROSSBALL! On a cross from the right by Zivkovic, a strike from the Al-Hilal striker deflected by the usual Karnicnik: Serbia equalizes the woodwork!

75′ – SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC! Header from the former Lazio player deflected with his face by Bijol: the ball goes just wide with the referees not noticing the presence of the corner.

79′ – KARNICNIK AGAIN! Low shot from the edge of the Slovenian number 2: the ball is just wide!

83′ – SAMARDZIC! The Udinese playmaker, newly introduced, crosses the left low shot from the edge: the ball goes close to the post!

90’+6 – SERBIA GOAL WITH JOVIC! Turning corner by Ilic and imperious break from the Milan striker, who came on in the 64th minute in place of an inadequate Vlahovuc: ball in the corner, unstoppable for Oblak: 1-1!

Karnicnik. If left-back Janza had been decisive against Denmark, this time it was he who took center stage, actually building – from start to finish – the goal of Slovenia’s momentary lead, coming close to doubling the lead and, in between, deflecting a shot onto the crossbar. Mitrovic’s kick. Celje’s class of 1994 deserves applause.

Gacinovic. He badly loses a ball in attack one-on-one with Karnicnik, giving way, despite himself, to the Slovenian goal.