New Zealand entertained Slovenia in a World Cup warm-up match but could not build on their impressive performance against Serbia as Slovenia ran away 3-1 winners with a commanding brace from Milivoje Novakovic.
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The game immediately took off at the whistle with both sides in confident mood. Just six minutes in FC Cologne striker Novakovic hit a sublime free kick into the top corner which New Zealand keeper Mark Paston had no chance of keeping.
New Zealand immediately pressed for the equalizer which duly arrived 15 minutes later with Rory Fallon’s clinical finish.
Novakovic was in the mood however and regained his side their advantage with another goal from a free kick. His shot flew into the bottom left corner leaving the All Whites keeper Mark Paston looking sheepish.
The final goal arrived on the stroke of half time. Slovenia’s Andraz Krim sent a neat right footed shot past Mark Paston and into the net to finally put the game past the All Whites.
Slovenia’s final friendly could not have ended better and they will now enter the World Cup against the Algerians buoyed and in confident mood.
New Zealand will look to bounce back and get it right in their final friendly against Chile a day prior to the beginning of the World Cup.
