80’ GOAAALLL!!! SVN 2-0 POR
Elsnik scores!!! Portugal was arguing with the referee regarding two penalty shouts. Slovenia plays to the whistle and sets up a chance for Elsnik, who fires it into the top of the net for his first-ever goal for Slovenia.
78’
Vitinha finally has a shot on target for Portugal. Oblak makes an easy save.
74’ Off the post!!
Joao Felix strikes the bottom of the right post as a cross from the right comes in from Ruben Neves. Portugal is looking for an immediate response.
72’ GOAL!! SVN 1-0 POR
Cerin scores!!!!! Celar drives the ball towards the box and fires into the feet of Sesko, who plays a first-time pass into the penalty area, which is met by Cerin for an easy finish past Costa.
68’ Chance for Portugal
Dalot skies the ball above the crossbar after Ronaldo lays it out for him, following a well-worked one-touch move from Felix.
66' Substitution for Slovenia
Lovric and Sporar are taken off. Benjamin Verbic and Zan Celar take their place respectively.
March 27, 2024 02:40
YELLOW CARD
63’ Yellow card!!
Roars inside the Stozice Stadium increases as Slovenia enjoys a period of possession for the first time in the second half. Lovric is brought down by a harsh tackle from Conceicao. He gets booked on his debut.
60’ Chance!!
Ronaldo chops back inside from the right side of the box and whips a low shot, which just whizzes past the post. Still zero shots on target for Portugal.
58’ SVN 0-0 POR
Dalot gets a good-looking cross into the box from the right. Once again Blazic is there to clear it away. All square at the Stozice Stadium.
55’
Karnicnik gives the ball away and Ronaldo almost gets shot off before being closed down. A tough challenge from Sesko forces Inacio to go to the ground and pause play
52’ Save!! First shot on target of the match
A mistake from Antonio Silva gives the ball away to Sesko. He drives the ball towards the middle of the goal and takes a shot just before the edge of the box. The keeper who was way off his line was able to cover down the area and make a fine diving save towards his right.
March 27, 2024 02:25
YELLOW CARD
49’ Yellow card!!
Stojanovic brings down Dalot who was trying to drive the ball down the right side. The referee does not hesitate to whip out his yellow card. Cancelo also finds himself in the book.
47’
Joao Felix dribbles his way into the box and lays a ball off for Cancelo, who strikes his cross into Blazic, and wins a corner for his side.
Second half begins !!
Two changes for Portugal immediately after the break. Veteran Pepe is replaced by Antonio Silva while Otavio makes way for debutant Chico Conceicao. No changes for Slovenia
Half time!!
A very quiet half for Ronaldo and Portugal. A composed Slovenia will be happy with its performance, after not letting the Portuguese attackers have a sight on goal.
43’
Referee stops the play as a fan runs onto the pitch. The fan runs directly to Ronaldo and is taken away by the authorities. Play resumes. Just one minute of added time.
41’
Four minutes plus added time to go. No shot on target from either side so far. A teasing cross from Dalot is cut off by Blazic’s head before Ronaldo is able to direct it towards the goal.
38’
Cancelo goes down in the penalty box. Elsnik sticks out a leg which trips up Cancelo. Ref asks to play on. Replays show no contact was made on the ball by Elsnik.
36’
A spell of healthy possession for Slovenia ends with Elsnik who found himself in a good position in the box. His shot is blocked by Pepe, making it an easy gather for Diogo Costa.
34’
Janza gives the ball away to Dalot who is unable to find Felix. Possession back with Slovenia who are utilising its goalkeeper to keep passing the ball around the back.
31’ Chance!!
Joao Felix is unable to keep the ball down under the cross bar after a mis-hit from Cancelo falls right in front of an oncoming Felix.
27’
Slovenia has slowly found its groove maintaining possession. Elsnik tries to play a through ball for Sesko who is cut off by Dalot. The home crowd gets behind Slovenia who are growing in confidence.
24’
Chances for Sesko and Janza!! Both of them are unable to make proper contact with the ball after a cross was put in by Karnicnik, after a slick one-two play with Stojanovic.
21’
Slovenia are picking up the pace now. Dalot has to stretch to kick the ball away from Lovric who was through on goal.
19’
An off-balance Otavio is brought down in the Slovenian penalty box. Appeals for a penalty are waved away by the referee. Keep in mind, there is no VAR for this match.
March 27, 2024 01:34
YELLOW CARD
16’
Yellow for Janza. He lunges at Otavio who was trying to break away for a Portugal attack that came off a Slovenia freekick.
14’
Foul on Otavio by Lovric. Portugal quickly restart the game and maintain possession. Slovenia win back possession and Janza puts in a hopeful ball from the left, only to be cleared away by Pepe.
12’
Promising attack from Slovenia. Sesko receives a long ball from Oblak. He is forced to the corner by Inacio, who eventually manages to win a goal kick for his side
10’
Portugal keep trying to create chances through the right wing with Dalot making overlapping runs.
7’
Ruben Neves give away a foul in Slovenia’s midfield after bringing down Sporar. Neves claims he got the ball but the ref is having none of it.
4’
Portugal maintain possession. Dalot receives the ball and crosses it but ends up sending it too deep.
2’
Pepe lobs a ball above the Slovenian midfield but Ronaldo is unable to bring it down for a shot. Slovenia clear the ball and Sesko takes it forward and takes a shot which is deflected for a corner.
Kick off!!
The international friendly between Slovenia and Portugal kicks off in Stozice Stadium. Portugal starts in its usual red while Slovenia starts in white. Ronaldo gets the ball rolling for Portugal who is kicking from left to right.
Minutes to kick off!
The two teams are making their way into a packed Stozice Stadium, in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Head to head
The two sides are facing each other for the first time. Slovenia is unbeaten in eight home games while Portugal has not lost in 11 matches.
Recent form
Portugal is coming off a comfortable 5-2 win over Sweden on March 22. Slovenia on the other hand was held to a 2-2 draw away to Malta. However, Slovenia is unbeaten in 2024 so far.
Pre-Euro 2024 friendlies
Both sides will look to prepare for the European championship starting in June in Germany. Portugal will begin its Euro 2024 campaign against the Czech Republic on June 19 while Slovenia will face Denmark on June 16.
Portugal starting XI
Diogo Costa (gk), Inacio, Pepe, Pereira, Dalot, Neves, Vitinha, Cancelo, Otavio, Felix, Ronaldo (c)
Slovenia starting XI
Oblak (gk) (c), Karnicnik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza, Lovric, Elsnik, Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Sesko, Sporar
PREVIEW
The international friendly match between Slovenia and Portugal will take place on Tuesday, March 26 (March 27, 1:15 AM IST) at the Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Where to watch the Slovenia vs Portugal international friendly match?The international friendly match between Slovenia and Portugal will be telecasted live on the Sony Sports Network. The match can also be livestreamed on the SonyLiv app and website.
