Solid Leeds United man and octopus teammate helps country to Nations League result and team's first for a year
A Leeds United defender had a big international chance on Saturday afternoon.
Leeds United defender Jaka Bijol and an inspired teammate somehow helped Slovenia to a Nations League draw against Scotland and a first clean sheet in a year.
Signed last summer from Udinese, Bijol enjoyed a particularly impressive second half of last season but the centre-back has been an unused substitute for United’s last two games despite the injury to Joe Rodon.
Whites boss Daniel Farke has instead gone with a back three of James Justin plus summer signings Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi but Bijol remains a regular for Slovenia and the defender returned to action in Saturday’s Nations League clash against Scotland in Ljubljana.
Boss Bostjan Cesar named Bijol in his starting line-up as the Leeds defender’s long run of starts for his country continued.
Slovenia - who did not qualify for this year’s World Cup - went into the contest having won just one of their last ten games and having not kept a clean sheet since the goalless draw at home to Switzerland in a World Cup qualifier last October.
Bijol lined up as the middle centre-back in a back three alongside Espanyol’s Zenit Saint Petersburg loanee Vanja Drkusic and Orlando City’s David Brekalo but Bijol threatened to have an impact at the other end of the pitch in the early exchanges as he went close to getting on the end of a corner.
Thereafter, his side largely dominated the first half aside from a few Scotland attacks, Bijol and his defence standing firm with the Leeds defender also playing a few calm balls up the pitch although a long pass down the right flank on the half hour mark proved vastly overhit.
Bijol went into the Scotland box for every Slovenia corner, teammate Drkusic sending a header onto the post from the fourth of them in the 32nd minute.
A brilliant pass from John McGinn then threatened to open up the Slovenia defence just before the interval but Bijol helped his side clear the danger.
Moments later, Scotland debutante Robbie Ure cut inside and shifted past Bijol before firing in a low shot from the edge of the box that clipped the outside of the post.
Slovenia were suddenly under the cosh a bit but the first half ended goalless.
But the second half proved a totally different story in which Slovenia survived a barrage of pressure with Bijol and in particular keeper Jan Oblak playing key roles.
The Tartan Army immediately began the second half on the front foot but some calm defending Bijol just inside his own box helped Slovenia clear their lines under the early pressure.
But the visitors then squandered their best chance yet in the 52nd minute as Leeds-born Oli McBurnie squeezed past Drkusic into the box only for keeper Oblak to come flying out and smother the ball at his feet, Slovenia’s X account hailing Oblak with an emoji of an octopus.
Another more routine save from Atletico Madrid stopper Oblak was needed a few moments later, Bijol and co facing much more pressure than in the majority of the first half.
As the contest neared the hour mark, Billy Gilmour was thelatest Scotland player to burst into the box but his low shot through Bijol’s legs was also saved by Oblak - the nine time Slovenian footballer of the year.
As Ure got into the area, a block from Bijol helped see off another attack shortly after.
Scotland were now well on top and Bijol’s defensive partner Drkusic was one of two players taken off as part of a double change in the 64th minute.
Another Bijol block with his back to goal and then hooked clearance with Ure again lurking followed shortly after but Bijol was then beaten to the ball from a corner by Aaron Hickey whose glancing header flew inches wide.
Slovenia now couldn’t get out and a neat through ball from Stephen Welsh played in substitute Kieron Bowie who was also denied by a smart Oblak save, the keeper also beating away a McBurnie header under pressure from Bijol at the corner.
But the Slovenia net should have bulged in the 80th minute as Gilmour played in Bowie who was one-on-one with Oblak but lashed his shot wide.
Nevertheless, Oblak and Bijol were proving the main men in keeping the score goalless, Bijol heading away a cross from the right from under his own bar in the 79th minute.
The second half was proving an onslaught and another chance went begging as Welsh blasted over from the edge of the box.
As the pressure continued, Bijol was being dragged out of defence to clear with Andy Robertson looking to pull the strings.
Scotland were then given just two minutes of added time to finally make their pressure count but one last header clear and a gather of a ball back into the box by Oblak sealed Slovenia a point as the game ended in a goalless draw.