Sigurdsson double earns Iceland comeback win
Friday, March 22, 2013
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Slovenia 1-2 Iceland
A second-half double from midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson secured the visitors back-to-back away victories and lifted them into second in Group E.
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Iceland staged a spirited second-half comeback to win in Slovenia and move second in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group E.
Lars Lagerbäck's team were made to work hard for their second consecutive away victory after falling behind to Milivoje Novakovič's 34th-minute opener in Ljubljana. Tottenham Hotspur FC midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson restored parity shortly after the restart and the same player completed the turnaround 12 minutes from time.
As for Slovenia, coach Srečko Katanec returned to the dugout for a competitive game for the first time in over a decade. His homecoming sparked a positive reaction just past the half-hour as Novakovič darted towards the penalty area and found the bottom corner with a sweetly struck shot. The home team proceeded to dictate the tempo until they were undone by a moment of individual brilliance from Sigurdsson ten minutes into the second period.
From 25 metres out, the cultured midfielder found the top corner with a stunning free-kick to draw Iceland level and stun the home crowd into silence. Dejan Lazarevič and Jasmin Kurtić both spurned opportunities to restore the Slovenian lead and the hosts were made to pay for their profligacy when Sigurdsson tapped in from close range to take the points to Iceland, who climb to third in the section.