Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Slovenia 3 - 1 Republic of Ireland
VIDEO: Ireland U21s suffer 3-1 loss in Slovenia
Although the Irish got off to a lively start with a number of penetrating attacks early on that ultimately failed to test home keeper Grega Sorčan they were playing second best once Slovenia went ahead in the 14th minute.
Ireland went behind after Miha Zajc forced a corner with a stinging free-kick that Ian Lawlor did well to push wide but from Zajc's resulting corner the ball was turned home by Luka
Krajnc from close range.
In the 24th minute the lively Callum O'Dowda showed his threat for Ireland with a shot from distance that narrowly missed the target.
Zajc had a decent effort for Slovenia deflected over in the 29th minute as the home side looked to push home their advantage.
Ireland suffered another blow in the 55th minute when Gregor Bajde converted from the penalty spot despite the best efforts of Irish keeper Ian Lawlor.
Sean Long had been penalised for a challenge on Aljaž Krefl after Lawlor had saved an initial strike from Zajc.
Lawlor was called into action to deal with another powerful strike from Bajde in the 57th minute.
Slovenia should have extended their lead further in the 63rd minute when Zajc led a break then fed Domen Črnigoj on the right and his low cross landed at the feet of Dino Hotič, who somehow turned over an open goal.
Ireland got a boost from that let off and pulled one back when a low shot by O'Dowda squeezed under keeper Grega Sorčan in the 65th minute.
But just seven minutes later Slovenia went 3-1 up with Zajc found the net with a thumping free-kick from the edge of the box.
In the 80th minute Lawlor showed his quality again when he dived full length to push away a strike on the turn from Hotič.
Four minutes later Lawlor made another decent stop to deny Hotič once more and Lawlor made another save to deny Krefl in injury-time.
Ireland head coach Noel King said: "The big frustration is to have conceded from three dead ball situations. The penalty was extremely harsh and it was the turning point in the game.
"We had some good spells in the game but didn't make it pay. We lost key players to injuries in the game also but overall it wasn't a good enough performance and a disappointing result.
"We will look at how the other games in the group pan out in the coming weeks before looking at bringing in the next age group where we have some very talented young players coming through."
SLOVENIA: Grega Sorčan, Aljaž Krefl, Luka Krajnc, Leo Ejup, Nik Kapun, Gregor Bajde (Luka Zahovič 78), Domen Črnigoj, Žiga Kastrevec (Dino Hotič 55), Miha Zajc, Denis Šme, Žan Benedičič (Leo Štulac 46).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Ian Lawlor, Sean Long, Sean Hoare, Niall Keown, Darragh Lenihan, Shane Griffin (Dylan Connolly 61), Connor Dimaio, Conor Wilkinson (Seán Maguire 39), Jack Byrne, Callum O'Dowda (Joshua Barrett 75), Jack Connors.
Ireland U21s look for qualifier win in Slovenia
Noel King's side suffered a 4-1 loss to Group 2 leaders Italy in Waterford on Thursday but the Irish can get back in the hunt for second spot and an opportunity to reach one of the four play-off spots with a win over the Slovenians.
The nine group winners qualify automatically. The four runners-up with the best record against the teams that finish first, third, fourth and fifth in their sections advance to the play-offs.
"We're still in with a chance of finishing second. Slovenia are a very good side and have had some good results themselves and it’s a difficult test but we're going into the game looking to get three points out of it," said King.
"This group was never going to be easy with the quality of teams in it. Slovenia are a very talented side without having the international reputation of a side like Italy but they do cause teams problems.
"It's a game that both sides will feel that they have a chance of winning."
Chesterfield's former U19 international midfielder Connor Dimaio has joined the squad Brighton defender Glen Rea was forced out through suspension while Shamrock Rovers midfielder Brandon Miele was unable to travel and has been replaced by Bray Wanderers winger Dylan Connolly. Josh Cullen, Alan Browne and Tommie Hoban had all previously been ruled out through injury.
"There's been a couple of enforced changes so there's opportunities there for Dylan Connolly, who has come back in and we know well, and Connor Dimaio who was born in 1996 so he's three more years at this age group. We've four players who are in the group now with three years at this level ahead of them," said King.
The Irish boss was pleased to see the recent progress to senior international level of some of his former U21 squad members Shane Duffy and Eunan O'Kane but insists that he wants to balance the developmental aspect of U21 level with a desire to record victories and ultimately qualify for finals tournaments.
"We've had a good success rate of players going on to the senior squad and we'd like to continue that. Development and performance are key to every player and progressing them on is a huge issue that we focus on with every player," he said.
"However, I've never gone into a game just saying we're here to develop players, we also want to develop a winning mentality and you do that by winning. The competitive games are a great assessment of how players are progressing so that's important for their development too. It's also important for the country that we do win games and keep seedings up and win whenever we possibly can.
"There are players who've come through the process. How much influence you have on that I can't say. Sometimes you may convince them to come on board for Ireland, sometimes they may have come through on their own anyway. It's hard to say so I'm not staking any claims on anybody. We'll keep on doing what we do, keep on looking for players and look to develop the players that we have.
"All of that is while we try to win games and we were in a very difficult game the other day against Italy. We played reasonably well and created some chances but we weren't clinical enough and the Italians were very good in that aspect, albeit we assisted them with the concession of some of their scores and that can be the case with any team and particularly at this age group."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 SQUAD:
Ian Lawlor (Manchester City – on-loan to Bury)
Danny Rogers (Aberdeen – on-loan to Falkirk)
Brian Lenihan (Hull City)
Jack Connors (Dagenham - on-loan to Borehamwood)
Niall Keown (Reading)
Sean Hoare (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Kevin O’Connor (Cork City)
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers)
Harry Charsley (Everton)
Jack Byrne (Manchester City – on-loan to Cambuur)
Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United)
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers – on-loan to Portsmouth)
Josh Barrett (Reading)
Shane Griffin (Reading)
Sean Maguire (Cork City)
Sean Long (Reading - on-loan to Braintree Town)
Dylan Connolly (Bray Wanderers)
Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield)
FIXTURE
Monday, March 27
UEFA U21 Championships Group 2
Slovenia v Republic of Ireland, ŠRC Bonifika, Koper (SVN) (5.00pm Irish)
Tactical Lineups
Slovenia
Substitutes
- 12 Gregor Zabret (G)
- 4 Kenan Bajrić
- 8 Dino Hotić
- 13 Aleks Pihler
- 17 Luka Zahović
- 19 Leo Štulac
- 21 Alen Ožbolt
Coach
Primoz Gliha
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
Coach
Noel King
Officials
- Referee Andris Treimanis
- Assistant Referees Haralds Gudermanis
- UEFA Delegate Sergiu Lisnic
- Assistant Referee Two Aleksejs Spasennikovs
- Fourth Official Mareks Ķere
- Referee Observer Emil Bozinovski
Match Statistics
- Slovenia
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary