Polokwane — Slovenia claimed a first-ever FIFA World Cup win when they beat the 10 men of Algeria 1-0 in their Group C encounter in Polokwane on Sunday.

The game never reached any great heights as a spectacle and was decided by a lone goal from Slovenia skipper Robert Koren, who is without a club at present after being released by English side West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season.

The Desert Foxes were reduced to 10 men when striker Abdelkader Ghezzal, who had been on the pitch for only 15 minutes, received a deserved yellow card for deliberate handball, then picked up another seconds later for arguing with the referee.

The first half was devoid of clear-cut chances, but Hassan Yebda supplied a cross that just eluded Rafik Djebbour, while the best chance for the Slovenians came from a wicked shot from just outside the area by Valter Birsa. It was brilliantly tipped over by Faouzi Chaouchi.

Later Djebbour mis-controlled when he might have done better inside the box, while Karim Ziani tried an ambitious effort that went wide.

Andraz Kirm found himself one-on-one with Faouzi Chaouchi, but he hit the ball straight at the goalkeeper in what was the best opening of the game to that point.

The breakthrough finally came with 11 minutes remaining as Koren fired home from 25 yards. The ball bounced awkwardly in front of Chaouchi, who someone got himself under it, allowing a soft goal.

It was a save Chaouchi really should have made; although not quite as bad as the blunder made by Robert Green for England against the USA the night before, it will still give the stopper nightmares.

It was a sloppy performance from Algeria, who now have it all to do against the Group C big-guns England and the United States if they are to progress to the second round. On this showing that looks highly unlikely.