Estonia beat Slovenia through supersub Purje

• Late Estonia substitute Ats Purje produces a dramatic 86th-minute winner
• Defences dominate for most of the Group E game
• Slovenia have the better chances but cannot force a goal
• The visitors lose Dalibor Stevanović to a 79th-minute red card
• Next games: Lithuania v Estonia, Slovenia v Switzerland (9 October)

Estonia, who upset the odds by making the UEFA EURO 2012 play-offs, are off to a fine start to their latest qualifying campaign after a stubborn defensive performance was capped by Ats Purje's 86th-minute winner.

Slovenia created the first chance after just two minutes, but Sergei Pareiko reacted well to ensure Ragnar Klavan did not score an own goal. The visitors continued to press and at one stage produced three shots in a minute, while Estonia responded with Sergei Zenjov's curling effort off target after 12 minutes.

But it was the defences that were excelling and Samir Handanovič in Slovenia's goal was rarely troubled, though Henri Anier missed with a header from Ilja Antonov's free-kick.

Little changed after the interval and the first decent opportunity of the half was created only on the hour mark. Handanovič misjudged an advance out of goal, but Igor Morozov headed over the bar.

Then it was Milivoje Novakovič and Rajko Rotman's turn to miss for the Slovenes, yet with 11 minutes to go the away team were down to ten men when Dalibor Stevanović received a second yellow card. Estonia now pounced, pushing forward and getting their reward when substitute Purje, a minute after coming on, lashed in from close range following a goalmouth scramble.