This match, particularly the first half - was like watching paint dry. Despite a real incentive after last nights draw between England and the United States, there was a transparent lack of quality on both sides, with only the occasional flash of brilliance from one or two players on display. Nadir Belhadj particularly showed why he will have frustrated and delighted Portsmouth fans in equal measure this season, with some good runs from full back and some lovely deliveries, yet lacking the overall consistency to make a major impact.
Algeria lost all threat upon the ridiculous sending off of substitute Abdelkader Gezzhal, the striker picking up his second yellow card for an impetuous Maradona moment in the Slovenian box. His match lasted a mere fourteen minutes, eclipsing Uruguay's Lodeiro who picked up two yellows in twenty minutes.
After approaching eighty minutes of purgatory, Robert Koren, just released by West Bromwich Albion - provided Faouzi Chaouchi with his opportunity to join the Useless International Goalkeepers Club, and the Algerian stopper duly obliged, letting a routine save slip through his grasp for the only goal of the game.
Ironically this came virtually straight after Algeria had just spurned the best chance of the match, poor communication by Marko Suler and Samir Handanovic let in Karim Ziani, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself expertly sprawling at the feet of the Algerian wide forward.
Defeat leaves Algeria on the brink of elimination with Slovenia realistically one good result against the two group favourites away from progression.
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