Euro 2000 Group C - Spain 2 Slovenia 1

Spain revived their chances of reaching the last eight at Euro 2000 with a 2-1 win over Slovenia in Amsterdam.

They now join Norway at the top of Group C but the Norwegians can re-establish control of the section if they defeat Yugoslavia in Liege.

A very even game was decided in two second half minutes on the hour when Slovenia drew level and the Spanish team went straight up field to score the winning goal.

Slovenian star Zlatko Zahovic was credited with the equaliser for his side and if he is awarded the goal then the talented striker will be top scorer at Euro 2000 with three strikes.

It is hard to tell what happened to the ball to send it into the Spanish net in the 58th minute as Slovenia swept through the Spanish defence.

Zahovic clipped a pass to Rudonja on the run down the left and he hit the ball hard and low to the centre of goal. The match seemed to stop as two Slovenian strikers - Zahovic and substitute Milan Osterc ran in to accept the chance. Osterc appeared to fall and stab the ball in with Spanish centre back Fernando Hierro also seeming to touch the ball towards his won goal as he tried to defend. Zahovic was behind these two and did not seem to touch the ball but it was awarded to him in the stadium and on television coverage.

Slovenia had scored with their first shot on target but Spain were back in front within seconds f the restart.

Gaizka Mendieta beat three defenders as he carried the ball from the left into centre field before sliding the ball through to Exteberria who slapped a near post drive through the dive of Dabanovich and into the net.

Defender Galic almost headed an equaliser in the same minute when he was unmarked at a free kick but the ball came off his back towards Canizares in the Spanish goal and he saved the effort low on his goal line.

Zahovic also tested Canizares in the 66th minute when he collected an over hit corner of the far side of the penalty area and curled a shot back to the corner of the goal but the Valencia 'keeper palmed the ball away.

Spain defender Abelardo sent a header over the bar from a corner and before Spain took the second half lead Raul went close with a 51st minute header over the bar and a drive over the cross bar four minutes before that.

Raul gave Spain the lead in the 4th minute when he collected a scrappy clearance from the Slovenian defence after Mendieta had seen a shot charged down.

The Real Madrid star touched the ball to his left and hit a great shot high into the far corner for the best moment in a first half of little action.

Spain now face Yugoslavia on Tuesday and probably need a win. Slovenia will also need to beat Norway to stand any chance of making progress but need other results to go their way.