2-1 up from the first leg, the Russians were left breathing a sigh of relief after 13 minutes in Slovenia and a cross which cannoned off a defender lucky rebounded off the post. On the stroke of halftime the home crowd went wild, a cross from the left was converted by the stray leg of Zlatko Dedic and the Slovenians went bananas. Alexander Kerzhakov crippled Russia’s chances by getting himself sent off for kicking out at home keeper Handanovic after spurning a goalscoring opportunity. Slovenia qualified on away goals.