Serbia's Jovic snatches late equaliser to salvage 1-1 draw with Slovenia

MUNICH, Germany :Serbia substitute Luka Jovic headed a last-gasp equaliser to cancel out Zan Karnicnik's opener and salvage a 1-1 draw with Slovenia in an absorbing Group C clash at Euro 2024 on Thursday.

Both sides hit the woodwork and had periods where they dominated possession and created chances at the Munich Football Arena in a game that swung from end-to-end at times.

The result puts Slovenia in second place on two points with leaders England, who have three, to come in their final group game. Serbia, bottom with one point, next face Denmark, who also have one point and play England later on Thursday.

Slovenia remain unbeaten and still firmly in contention to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. For Serbia, the point also bolsters their hopes of progressing.

Serbia manager Dragan Stojkovic praised Slovenia’s discipline and bemoaned the fact that despite creating 15 goal attempts his side did not score until almost the final whistle.

"We created chances," Stojkovic said. "It was incredible how the ball did not want to enter the goal."(With Denmark) it will be us or them. We will play an open game."

Just like in their 1-0 opening defeat against England, Serbia started slowly and handed the initiative to Slovenia whose first big chance came when Timi Elsnik hit the near post after dribbling into the box in the first half.

Slovenia broke the deadlock after the break with a brilliantly worked goal from man-of-the-match Karnicnik who put them on the brink of their first ever Euros win.

Slovenia had missed several good chances until right back Karnicnik drove upfield from the edge of his own penalty area, released the ball to Elsnik and then met the return cross to slot the ball past Predrag Rajkovic in the 69th