Yugoslavia v Slovenia, 13 June 2000

Score3-3
Referee Vítor Melo Pereira
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group C
VenueStade du Pays de Charleroi, Charleroi
Attendance18,500
Kick Off: 20:45 Local (19:45 BST) Assistant referees: Nicolae Grigorescu (Romania) Dramane Dante (Mali) Fourth official: Graham Poll (England) Man of the Match: Zlatko Zahovič (Slovenia) The outlook was not so much gloomy as apocalyptic for Yugoslavia three-quarters of the way through this Group C opener. Trailing 3-0, Siniša Mihajlović compounded their woes by getting sent off; but then something incredible happened. Within the space of six minutes they were level. Tournament debutants Slovenia, 150-1 outsiders at the start of UEFA EURO 2000, had been in dreamland, coasting after two goals from Zlatko Zahovič and Miran Pavlin's header. Mihajlović's indiscretions seemingly left them on the home straight but they eased off fatally. Substitute Savo Milošević pounced, scoring twice either side of Ljubinko Drulović's sweet left-footed strike to earn Yugoslavia a remarkable point. Slovenia were crestfallen, inspecting the ruins of a match that had been going so well. Srečko Katanec's charges had soon been into their stride in unfamiliar surroundings, and Zahovič's 23rd-minute opener was merited. Aleš Čeh found space to run into on the left and delivered an inviting ball towards the penalty spot where the striker met it with a header directed into the bottom corner. With Pavlin pulling the strings in midfield, Slovenia's neat passing game was proving irresistible. One beautiful move involving Pavlin, Čeh and Sašo Udovič created another great chance for Zahovič, but this time Ivica Kralj raced from his line and the shot spun away for a corner off the goalkeeper's legs. Yugoslavia were sufficiently rattled to introduce the 35-year-old Dragan Stojković in an attempt to bring some composure. Had his crossing been more accurate two minutes before the break he may have done more than that after weaving some of the old magic and soon after the restart Mihajlović he tested Mladen Dabanovič with a free-kick. In the ascendancy, Vujadin Boškov introduced Milošević. Yet almost before Yugoslavia's No9 had taken up his position, it was 2-0 as Pavlin headed in Zahovič's free-kick. Mihajlović was then booked for dissent and two minutes later a dreadful pass across the edge of his own area let in Zahovič for his second and Slovenia's third. To compound his error, Mihajlović was booked again almost immediately: Yugoslavia were down to ten. Then came the fightback. First Miroslav Djukić retrieved a lost cause at the far post and Milošević turned the ball in after it bounced down to him off the bar, then Drulović rifled in. Three minutes later Yugoslavia were level, Drulović shrugging off Čeh and playing in a perfect ball for Milošević to sweep in the equaliser from close range. To their credit Slovenia regained their footing, and it took Ivan Dudić's goal-line clearance to deny Željko Milinovič a dramatic late winner; Yugoslavia held on.

3  Yugoslavia

Manager: Vajadin Boskov

3  Slovenia

Manager: Srecko Katanec

Goals:

Savo Milošević 67 G
Ljubinko Drulović 70 G
Savo Milošević 73 G

Goals:

Zlatko Zahovič 23 G
Miran Pavlin 52 G
Zlatko Zahovič 57 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Ivica Kralj
Defender Ivan Dudic
Defender Miroslav Dukić
Midfielder Slaviša Jokanović
Midfielder Vladimir Jugović
Midfielder Albert Nadj
Midfielder Dejan Stanković
Forward Pedrag Mijatović (captain)

Starting lineup:

Mladen Dabanovič Goalkeeper
Marinko Galič Defender
Darko Milanič Defender (captain)
Aleš Ceh Midfielder
Amir Karič Midfielder
Džoni Novak Midfielder
Miran Pavlin Midfielder
Mladen Rudonja Midfielder
Zlatko Zahovič Midfielder
Sašo Udovič Forward

Substitutions:

Dragan Stojković for Dejan Stanković 36
Savo Milošević for Darko Kovačević 52
Mateja Kežman for Pedrag Mijatović 82

Substitutions:

Milenko Ačimovič for Sašo Udovič 64
Zoran Pavlović for Miran Pavlin 73
Milan Osterc for Amir Karič 78

Cards:

Siniša Mihajlović 56 Y
Siniša Mihajlović 60 Y
Siniša Mihajlović 60 R

Cards:

Darko Milanič 13 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Zeljko Cicovic
Goalkeeper Milorad Korac
Midfielder Dejan Govedarica
Midfielder Albert Nadj
Midfielder Jovan Stanković
Midfielder Dragan Stojković
Forward Mateja Kežman

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Dejan Nemec
Goalkeeper Marko Simeunovič
Defender Spasoje Bulajič
Defender Rudi Istenič
Defender Aleksander Knavs
Midfielder Milenko Ačimovič
Midfielder Saša Gajser
Midfielder Zoran Pavlović
Midfielder Tonci Zlogar
Forward Milan Osterc
Forward Ermin Siljak

3  Yugoslavia

Manager: Vajadin Boskov

Goals:

Savo Milošević 67 G
Ljubinko Drulović 70 G
Savo Milošević 73 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Ivica Kralj
Defender Ivan Dudic
Defender Miroslav Dukić
Midfielder Slaviša Jokanović
Midfielder Vladimir Jugović
Midfielder Albert Nadj
Midfielder Dejan Stanković
Forward Pedrag Mijatović (captain)

Substitutions:

Dragan Stojković for Dejan Stanković 36
Savo Milošević for Darko Kovačević 52
Mateja Kežman for Pedrag Mijatović 82

Cards:

Siniša Mihajlović 56 Y
Siniša Mihajlović 60 Y
Siniša Mihajlović 60 R

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Zeljko Cicovic
Goalkeeper Milorad Korac
Midfielder Dejan Govedarica
Midfielder Albert Nadj
Midfielder Jovan Stanković
Midfielder Dragan Stojković
Forward Mateja Kežman

3  Slovenia

Manager: Srecko Katanec

Goals:

Zlatko Zahovič 23 G
Miran Pavlin 52 G
Zlatko Zahovič 57 G

Starting lineup:

Mladen Dabanovič Goalkeeper
Marinko Galič Defender
Darko Milanič Defender (captain)
Aleš Ceh Midfielder
Amir Karič Midfielder
Džoni Novak Midfielder
Miran Pavlin Midfielder
Mladen Rudonja Midfielder
Zlatko Zahovič Midfielder
Sašo Udovič Forward

Substitutions:

Milenko Ačimovič for Sašo Udovič 64
Zoran Pavlović for Miran Pavlin 73
Milan Osterc for Amir Karič 78

Cards:

Darko Milanič 13 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Dejan Nemec
Goalkeeper Marko Simeunovič
Defender Spasoje Bulajič
Defender Rudi Istenič
Defender Aleksander Knavs
Midfielder Milenko Ačimovič
Midfielder Saša Gajser
Midfielder Zoran Pavlović
Midfielder Tonci Zlogar
Forward Milan Osterc
Forward Ermin Siljak