Fortune is brought down by Novak (Allsport).

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Daegu

South Africa moved into second spot in group B and a potential next phase clash with Germany - or even the Republic of Ireland - after securing their first-ever World Cup win.

A fourth-minute goal from Udinese striker Siyabonga Nomvete was enough to settle the issue and send Slovenia out of the tournament.

But South Africa know they must still get something from their last game against leaders Spain with out-of-sorts Slovenia unlikely to trouble Paraguay on such form.

Before the game, much of the talk had centred around Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec's decision to quit after the tournament following a bust-up with star player Zlatko Zahovic.

And things soon got worse as they conceded an early goal to South Africa in the heat of Daegu.

Manchester United winger Quinton Fortune was fouled out on the left and when the free-kick speared into the box, Udinese forward Nomvete appeared unmarked six yards out to send the ball past a startled Andre Arendse off his knee.

The goal left Slovenia really up against it and they seemed unable to inject any fire into their game in the intense humidity and South Africa dictated the play.

Zahovic has proved to be disruptive on more than this one ocassion with clubs and country over the years, and Katanec had no more option that Mick McCarthy did with Roy Keane but to send him home.

But it robbed the Slovenians of their one real creative force.

Katanec's performance on the line seemed to betray the Slovenians' true feelings. Arms wide and complaining at his players for simple errors. It did not bode well.

It was 34 minutes before they had a serious chance when Doni Novak did well to get down the right and cut inside to find a shooting chance he spurned in favour of a pass back to Milenko Acimovic, who drove over from 18 yards.

Slovenia's problems increased when they had to substitute the limping Sebastjan Cimirotic five minutes before the break, Milan Osterc taking over up front.

Benny McCarthy, the Porto hitman, almost made it two after 49 minutes, turning on the edge of the box to strike a blistering drive that Marko Simeunovic somehow got a hand to, deflecting the rising effort over the bar.

McCarthy then went close again on 64 minutes when he hit the angle with a header from a clever chip from Fortune on the left.

And then a minute later McCarthy, again, turned in the box to strike a fierce drive from a Sibusiso Zuma cross that only Simeunovic knows how he got in the way of.

On 70 minutes Nastja Ceh produced a point blank header beaten out by Arendse that suggested Slovenia could salvage something.

Substitute Delron Buckley, after being played clear, could have wrapped things up with five minutes left but could not beat an exposed Simeunovic.

Teams

Subs Not Used: Issa, Lekgetho, Marlin, Mngomeni, Mnguni, Molefe, Vonk, Mukasi, Pienaar.

Booked: Radebe, Tebeho Mokoena.

Goals: Nomvete 4.

Slovenia: Simeunovic, Milinovic, Vugdalic, Knavs (Bulajic 60), Novak, Ales Ceh, Pavlin, Karic, Acimovic (Nastja Ceh 60), Rudonja, Cimirotic (Osterc 41).

Subs Not Used: Dabanovic, Gajser, Galic, Nemec, Pavlovic, Sankovic, Tavcar, Tiganj.

Booked: Vugdalic, Ales Ceh, Pavlin.

Att: 47,226

Ref: Angel Sanchez Ruzafa (Argentina).