Serbia, Slovenia draw 1-1 in Euro 2012 qualifier

Serbia, Slovenia draw 1-1 in Euro 2012 qualifier

Published Sep. 7, 2010 10:03 p.m. ET

Nikola Zigic's equalizer gave Serbia a 1-1 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.

Five minutes after Milivoje Novakovic gave Slovenia the lead in the 63rd from Andraz Kirm's pass, Zigic leveled with a powerful header after an assist from Anton Rukavina.

Serbian riot police intervened at the start of the match after home fans threw plastic stadium chairs at Slovenian supporters. The match at Red Star stadium in Belgrade was attended by about 20,000 people.

The match was played at a slow tempo in the first half, but picked up in the second when both teams stepped up the pressure.

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Slovenia had a couple of good chances in the first half: Zlatko Dedic was alone in front of goal but missed in 20th and again later in 27th.

While Zigic's 30th-minute header was saved by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

The match picked up momentum after Slovenia's goal, which forced Serbia to attack. Serbia midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic missed with a close-range shot in the 75th.

Previously in qualifying, Serbia beat the Faeroe Islands 3-0 and Slovenia lost 1-0 to Northern Ireland.

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Lineups:

Serbia: Andjelko Djuricic, Nemanja Vidic, Antonio Rukavina, Aleksandar Lukovic, Neven Subotic, Dejan Stankovic (Gojko Kacar, 71), Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Milan Jovanovic (Milo Ninkovic, 64), Zoran Tosic (Milos Krasic, 46), Nikola Zigic, Danko Lazovic.

Slovenia: Samir Handanovic, Mio Brecko, Botjan Cesar, Robert Koren, Valter Birsa (Josip Ilicic, 78), Milivoje Novakovic, Bojan Jokic, Zlatko Dedic (Zlatan Ljubijankic, 76), Andra Kirm (Dalibor Stevanovic, 89), Aleksander Radosavljevic, Matej Mavric

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