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Pršo sparks Croatian celebration
Croatia''s proud record of never failing to qualify for a UEFA European Championship final tournament remains intact at the third attempt after they emerged from Slovenia with a 1-0 victory to dash the hopes of their hosts.


Ten men victorious
The visitors were reduced to ten men on 59 minutes when Igor Tudor received his second yellow card, but they had dominated up to then and it was not long before Dado Pršo had scored his second goal of the tie, giving Croatia a lead they rarely looked like losing.

Croatian changes
Having ended the 1-1 first-leg draw in Zagreb the happier team, Slovenia made only one enforced change, with leading scorer Ermin Šiljak''s suspension leaving a space for Mladen Rudonja. Away coach Otto Baric rang the changes, though, not only replacing the suspended Ivica Olic with the recalled Tomislav Šokota, but bringing in Robert Kovac, Josip Šimunic, Darijo Srna, Milan Rapaic and Giovani Rosso for Stjepan Tomas, Jerko Leko, Ivica Mornar, Mato Neretljak and Dario Šimic.


Post struck
Knowing they had to score to prevent an away-goals exit, Croatia attacked from the off. On seven minutes they came close to breaking the deadlock as Šokota struck a shot from the edge of the box only for it to rebound off the post. Niko Kovac then shot over from a similar position, but gradually Slovenia tightened matters in midfield.

Knavs busy
It was still the away team who had the greater fluency despite their many changes from Saturday, with Aleksander Knavs busy in the home defence and Slovenian captain Miran Pavlin having to work tirelessly in midfield. Darijo Srna was proving a potent threat on the Croatian right, but was denied the space to send in a truly incisive cross.

Rosso miss
Only towards the end of the half did Croatia force more clear-cut chances. Two minutes from half-time, a Rapaic corner was headed on goal and saved by Mladen Dabanovic, but from only five metres out Rosso''s snap-shot went over the bar. Having not had a shot in the first half, Slovenia introduced Adem Kapic to reinvigorate their midfield during the break.

Tudor dismissed
However, Croatia had the better of the early second-half stages, only to find the Slovenian defence determined not to let them through. On 59 minutes, though, the visitors were reduced to ten men as Igor Tudor''s foul on Amir Karic earned the Juventus FC man a red card.

Visitors ahead
But if Slovenia thought they might take the initiative, within two minutes they were behind. Just as in Zagreb, it was the in-form Pršo who was on target, as he ran on to Šokota''s through-ball and poked the ball past Dabanovic. Even after the goal, Croatia kept pushing, knowing another would leave Slovenia needing to score three. Substitute Ermin Rakovic did have an effort on goal for the home team on the 73-minute mark, but he headed Zlatko Zahovic''s cross wide.

Effort blocked
After that Pršo was withdrawn for Leko as Croatia sought to protect their advantage. And although Slovenia began to press for a goal, they were never allowed sight of goal. Šokota was even able to break and curl the ball wide for the visitors, while Pavlin found his effort soon after blocked.

Late push
Time was ebbing away for Slovenia, and despite a late push aided by the advancing Dabanovic, they could not prise open the visiting defence and it is Croatia who booked their passage to Portugal.