Slovenia secures historic first win over Scotland

The Slovenia national football team defeated Scotland 2-1 (0-1) in Glasgow.

After four matches in the Nations League, Slovenia has seven points in Group B1 and sits in second place behind leaders Switzerland, who have a perfect record, CE Report informs via the Slovenian Football Federation's official website.

SCOTLAND – SLOVENIA 1:2 (1:0)

Hampden Park, attendance: 34,466. Referees: Sanchez, Cabanero, Prieto (all Spain).
Goals: 1-0 Christie (31), 1-1 Matko (56), 1-2 Šturm (71).
Yellow cards: McGinn, Binks; Janža, Zec, Zabukovnik, Celar.
Red cards: none.

Scotland: Gunn, Binks, Hendry, Welsh (Hickey 66), Robertson, Gilmour, Ferguson, McGinn (Ure 87), Gannon-Doak (Curtis 72), Christie (McPake 72), McBurnie (Bowie 66).

Slovenia: Oblak, Janža, Zec, Bijol, Brekalo, Karničnik, Zabukovnik, Gnezda Čerin, Šturm, Matko, Vipotnik (Celar 79).

Slovenia concluded the first part of this year's Nations League campaign in Glasgow. According to the coaching staff, the team had been improving from match to match, and confirmed that progress in Glasgow. With the comeback victory, Slovenia recorded its first-ever win against Scotland, having previously drawn four times and lost twice. Aljoša Matko and Danijel Šturm were the main heroes.

In the November international window, Boštjan Cesar's side will host Switzerland and travel to North Macedonia. David Zec and Erik Janža will miss the match against Switzerland through suspension.

Cesar made several changes to the starting lineup. Compared with the match against Switzerland, David Brekalo replaced Vanja Drkušić in central defense, while Adam Gnezda Čerin returned to the midfield in place of Sandi Lovrić. Matko, Šturm and Žan Vipotnik again formed the attacking trio.

Šturm was the first Slovenian player to threaten, hitting the post in the fourth minute, although the goal would not have counted because Žan Karničnik had committed a foul earlier in the move. Despite Slovenia's coaching staff having predicted strong Scottish pressure during the opening 15 minutes, the visitors looked more dangerous. In the 13th minute, Slovenia produced a promising attack, but Gnezda Čerin failed to finish it properly inside the penalty area.

In the 18th minute, Matko broke down the right flank but his eventual pass toward Šturm, who was making a run toward goal, was too weak. Scotland subsequently enjoyed more possession but struggled to find a way through Slovenia's compact formation. Almost exactly half an hour into the game, however, the hosts took the lead with their first dangerous attack.

Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a good save to parry Jack Hendry's header, but Ryan Christie reacted quickest and fired the rebound into the net from close range. In the 39th minute, Vipotnik had a chance to equalize when space opened up for a shot from 13 meters, but he hesitated too long and Andy Robertson blocked the attempt with a sliding challenge. Matko then fired wide from distance in the 44th minute.

Slovenia initially struggled to find an equalizer and nearly fell further behind in the 52nd minute, but four minutes later they finally found the breakthrough. Šturm played the ball into the path of Matko, who made a run into the box and beat Angus Gunn with a low, precise shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Shortly afterward, Šturm could have completed the turnaround when he ran through on goal from the left, but his finish lacked accuracy.

Slovenia continued to attack strongly during this dominant spell, backed by around 300 Slovenian supporters in the stands. The pressure worried Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, who responded with his first substitutions.

The visitors continued to look dangerous and Matko found the net again in the 69th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The Matko-Šturm partnership, which was causing constant problems for the Scottish defense, finally struck again in the 71st minute.

Matko broke down the right and delivered an accurate cross into the middle, where Šturm finished off a well-worked move.

Scotland predictably increased the pressure in the closing stages, but Slovenia held firm and comfortably dealt with the hosts' attacks.

Boštjan Cesar, Slovenia head coach: “From the beginning of the Nations League and my time in charge, we have emphasized that we play well both in attack and defense. Even when mistakes happened, I never blamed the players; instead, I encouraged them to keep trying. Today we were dominant from the first minute to the last. There was no panic after we fell behind because we knew we would score if we continued like that. Slovenia had never beaten Scotland before, so congratulations to the players—not only those who played, but the entire team, including those on the bench, who desperately wanted this victory as well. I am very proud.”

Photo Facebook/NogometnazvezaSlovenije