Livewire McCarthy is challenged by two men (Allsport)

By James Dart, Sportinglife.com

Final score: South Africa 1 Slovenia 0

Man-of-the-match: Tough to award this to any individual, but if anyone deserved it, Siyabonga Nomvete did. The goalscorer was lively throughout and was always making himself available for the ball down both flanks.

90 mins: The game ends to signal the elimination of Slovenia from the tournament. Sadly it has probably been the worst game of the competition so far, but South Africa won't be complaining as this is their first ever victory in the World Cup finals. They now stand on the brink of the second round, needing just a point from their final game with Spain to guarantee their progress to the last 16.

89 mins: Arendse comes out to collect a back-header from Aaron Mokoena as Slovenia fail to pressure. Three minutes of stoppage-time will be played.

88 mins: Slovenia just can't get the ball and their World Cup campaign looks set to see them eliminated after just two games.

87 mins: South Africa are finishing the game well and Sibaya is the latest player to chance his arm with a 27-yard drive which flashes safely over Simeunovic's crossbar.

86 mins: Pule's corner is deep but picks out the tall Koumantarakis. His header just flies over the bar.

85 mins: Nasta Ceh's corner is flapped at by Arendse, but Radebe hacks clear. The ball falls to McCarthy and he plays Buckley clear on goal down the inside-left channel. Goalkeeper Simeunovic advances to the edge of his area and gives Buckley a tough angle to shoot from. The striker's effort catches a nick off the goalkeeper and goes behind.

84 mins: Novan and then Osterc combine down the right and win a corner for Slovenia.

83 mins: The final substitution of the match sees Fortune come off for South Africa with Jabo Pule taking his place in midfield.

81 mins: Better work from Slovenia as Mladen Rudonja breaks down the left. He cuts back to play in Osterc, but he loses possession. However, South Africa are sloppy, concede the ball to Karic, whose 30-yard thunderbolt only just flies over Arendse's bar with the goalkeeper at full stretch.

80 mins: South Africa are quick to make a change for McCarthy as George Koumantarakis takes his place. Bafana Bafana will just hope that McCarthy's injury is not too serious.

79 mins: The persistent McCarthy attempts another shot inside the Slovenian penalty area, but he loses his balance as the ball sails out for a goal-kick. He stays down though after the attempt and is stretchered off.

78 mins: Ales Ceh wins a corner down the right as Slovenia search for a leveller. Nastja Ceh whips the ball in but Arendse does well to collect.

77 mins: Confirmation comes through of a booking for Miran Pavlin, a couple of minutes earlier, for apparent unsporting behaviour.

76 mins: A pacy break from McCarthy sees him get in a weak shot on goal surrounded by four defenders. Simeunovic gathers comfortably.

75 mins: Just 15 minutes remaining for Slovenia to keep their faint World Cup dream alive. Remember, defeat and they are out of the tournament.

74 mins: Buckley and McCarthy combine neatly for the first time, but the former's through-ball just catches McCarthy offside.

72 mins: Having just been denied an equaliser by Arendse's save, Nastja Ceh's corner is poor and goes out for a goal-kick before curling back into play.

71 mins: Before the corner comes in, goalscorer Nomvete is substituted with Delron Buckley coming on to freshen up the South African forward line.

70 mins: Two Slovenia substitutes combine as Osterc's cross from the right is met by the head of Nastja Ceh, but his header from nine yards out is turned behind well by Arendse.

69 mins: This is probably Slovenia's best spell of the game and they are pressing Bafana Bafana back on their heels.

68 mins: Miran Pavlin breaks down the inside-left channel, but with three defenders closing down the angle, the Slovenian man is unable to get his foot around the ball as he sends it behind.

67 mins: The match has livened up considerably in the last five minutes. About time too! Hopefully this can now continue and at least give us an exciting end to the game.

66 mins: After their double reprieve, Slovenia break themselves to win a corner. Nastja Ceh's cross is good, but Slovenia are unable to capitalise by getting on the end of it.

64 mins: Another great chance for McCarthy goes begging as Nomvete reaches the by-line to pull the ball back to McCarthy. He strikes the ball from around ten yards out first time, but the shot flies straight at a relieved Simeunovic. A yard either side of the stopper and South Africa would be in total control.

63 mins: As Slovenia commit men forward, South Africa break with purpose. Zuma and McCarthy combine to release Fortune down the left and his cross to the near post sees McCarthy head off the angle of post and bar and go out for a goal-kick.

62 mins: With under half-an-hour to go, Slovenia must raise their game and start pushing forward to keep themselves in the tournament.

61 mins: Tempers are becoming more and more frayed as Slovenian skipper Ales Ceh is booked for brandishing an imaginary yellow card at the referee after a foul.

60 mins: Two more substitutions for Slovenia as Tottenham-bound Acimovic and defender Knavs take their leave, with Nastja Ceh and Spasoje Bulajic replacing them.

59 mins: A fourth booking of the game goes the way of Tebeho Mokoena for a late lunge on Ceh.

58 mins: Fortune and Tebeho Mokoena orchestrate a short corner that finds its way to the feet of Zuma. But as he attempts to turn, the defence crowds him out and clear their lines.

57 mins: Another corner to South Africa as Nomvete swivels on the by-line and sees his cross deflected behind.

56 mins: Nifty skills from Zuma out on the right and for the moment, all the play is taking place in the Slovenian half.

55 mins: Fortune shows the Slovenia defence a clean pair of heels down the left flank and the goalkeeper Simeunovic does well to palm the ball off the head of McCarthy at the back post.

54 mins: The match is beginning to become a little niggly, with the game struggling to flow owing to the number of fouls being committed.

53 mins: Good pressure from South Africa now as Nomvete just fails to pull back a cross from the by-line as the ball goes out for a goal-kick. Meanwhile, for a foul on Carnell earlier in the move, Milinovic is booked.

52 mins: As the corner is centred and cleared away by Milinovic, Katanec is banished to the stands by the fourth official. After the Zahovic affair, this is the last thing the Slovenian side needs.

51 mins: Probably the best moment of the game sees McCarthy turn well just outside the Slovenia penalty area, and he hits a powerful shot that Simeunovic does well to fist behind for a corner.

50 mins: Vociferous coach Katanec continues to argue with the fourth official down on the sidelines, apparently for the lack of a free-kick being awarded for a tackle on Ceh.

49 mins: An opportunity for Fortune as the Slovenia defence backs off inside their own half. Eventually he shoots from around 25 yards out, but defender Knavs keeps close tabs on the Manchester United man, blocking his attempt.

48 mins: Good covering play by Radebe as Acimovic looks to break in behind the South Africa defence.

47 mins: Both sides appear to be lining up in the same tactical shape as they did in the opening period, but the Slovenians are guaranteed to still have their ears burning from a Katanec roasting.

46 mins: The action gets back under way and after such a poor first half, surely the game can only get better. No changes have been made by either side during the break.

HT: South Africa 1 Slovenia 0

45 mins: After one minute of added time, the half-time whistle goes to end a disappointing first period here in Daegu. South Africa will be glad to be in front, but for Slovenia, improvement is imperative or they will be out of the tournament.

44 mins: Another short corner routine sees the ball come into the area via Fortune, but South Africa just can't reach the ball as it is half-cleared. McCarthy picks it up around 25 yards out, but his rising effort fails to trouble Simeunovic.

43 mins: Fortune wins a corner for South Africa down the left as Aleksander Knavs deflects the ball behind. A short ball comes out to Ntuthuko Sibaya, but his 25-yard effort is deflected out for another corner.

42 mins: It now looks as though Cimirotic may have just sustained a knock on his ankle, but it still didn't look serious enough to warrant a change in personnel so close to the interval.

41 mins: Katanec makes a substitution, apparently one motivated by his situation rather than injury, as Cimirotic comes off with centre forward Milan Osterc taking his place.

40 mins: More attacking play by Nomvete, now back on the left, but he just over-runs the ball and he gives away a goal-kick.

39 mins: Zuma does well to retrieve the ball on the by-line, before playing a pass inside to McCarthy. The Celta striker shifts the ball onto his left foot, but by doing this he loses momentum and he fails to fire an effort on goal.

38 mins: Corner to South Africa, and after a neat short routine by Zuma, his cross sees Radebe just fail to make contact with the ball.

37 mins: A good cross by Acimovic forces Aaron Mokoena to head behind for a corner. However, the flag-kick is poor, again failing to beat the first defender.

36 mins: Fortune lines up a shot on goal, but, typical of this opening period, it is a disappointing effort which sails high and very wide.

35 mins: McCarthy gets on the wrong side of Muamer Vugdalic in the Slovenian half and as he tugs the striker's shirt, McCarthy goes down to earn a booking for the defender.

34 mins: A free-kick gives Zuma the opportunity to centre into the Slovenian box, but his delivery is disappointing as the ball fails to pick out any of his team-mates.

33 mins: Arendse does well to claim the ball ahead of Mladen Rudonja in the South African penalty box, as Slovenia begin to up the tempo for the first time in the match.

32 mins: Slovenia's best move of the match sees Novak break well down the right before cutting back inside the South African penalty area. His chance looks to have gone, but he lays the ball off to Acimovic, whose 23-yard rocket flashes just wide of the angle of post and bar.

31 mins: Nomvete, the most lively player on the field, has switched flanks from the left to the right, and he continues to cause problems for the Slovenian defence.

30 mins: A crunching tackle by Fortune on Ceh sees the Manchester United man concede a free-kick, but no further action is taken against him.

29 mins: In all fairness, this is not the most entertaining of clashes at this World Cup, but the searing heat is clearly having an effect on both sides.

28 mins: Fortune wins a free-kick for South Africa, but his left-footed cross from the right fails to clear the first defender.

27 mins: A free-kick to Slovenia is hit from Milinovic, but sails over Arendse's crossbar from 35 yards out.

25 mins: Ceh is coming into the game a little more as he wins a free-kick just outside the South African box on the right. Acimovic stands up a high cross, but Carnell leaps highest to head upfield.

24 mins: Slack defending by Radebe gives the ball to Ales Ceh, but his cross is poor and South Africa clear their lines.

23 mins: A high ball into the South Africa box is claimed forcefully by goalkeeper Andre Arendse, a player who has really had little to do as yet.

22 mins: Zuma and Karic tussle out on the right flank, but the winger is judged to have fouled the latter, handing Slovenia a free-kick.

21 mins: An impressive run by defender Carnell into the Slovenian box, but he is eventually crowded out.

20 mins: Despite South Africa's early goal, the game is yet to really heat up, but what good play there has been has come from Bafana Bafana.

19 mins: A neat ball from Fortune is threaded down the inside-left channel for McCarthy. The Celta Vigo striker bursts into the left-edge of the Slovenian box, but from a very tight angle, his weak shot is straight at Simeunovic.

18 mins: Zuma releases Nomvete down the right flank this time, but with Benni McCarthy waiting inside the penalty area, Nomvete's cross is hit far to close to Simeunovic in the Slovenian goal.

16 mins: Miran Pavlin is the latest player to go down after a heavy tackle from Tebeho Mokoena in midfield. He doesn't appear to have suffered any lasting damage after a free-kick is awarded.

15 mins: A third of the way through the opening period and it isn't great news for Slovenian fans. They're failing to get support to their front players and appear low on confidence through the side.

14 mins: Nomvete skips down the left flank, doing superbly to go past Milinovic whilst keeping the ball in play. However, Slovenia get men back behind the ball and simply outnumber the goalscorer.

13 mins: Slovenia coach Katanec is far from pleased with Radebe's challenge and he becomes quite vocal to the fourth official on the sidelines.

12 mins: The first yellow card of the game is shown to Leeds defender Lucas Radebe for a crunching tackle on Cimirotic's foot. The Slovenian player goes off the pitch to receive treatment.

11 mins: Neat play inside the Slovenia half from Fortune and Sibaya, but it fails to create a chance.

10 mins: Bafana Bafana are looking lively and they clearly have risen in confidence after their fightback from 2-0 down against Paraguay in their opening match.

8 mins: Slovenia win a free-kick as Acimovic is caught from behind by Bradley Carnell. A quick pass through to Dzoni Novak sees Fortune track back and even win himself a free-kick for shirt-pulling by the Slovenian.

7 mins: Goalscorer Nomvete goes down in a heap after taking a ricochet in his lower mid-riff. He receives treatment from his physio.

6 mins: For Jomo Sono's team, this is a historic moment in that it is the first time they have ever led a game at the World Cup finals.

5 mins: A terrible start for Srecko Katanec's side, who are heading out of the tournament as the game stands at present.

4 mins: GOAL NOMVETE - Bafana Bafana take the lead as a Quinton Fortune free-kick out on the left evades some poor Slovenian marking and Siyabonga Nomvete makes contact with his thigh, diverting the ball past Marko Simeunovic from eight yards out.

4 mins: The ball is whipped into the South African penalty area and Zeljko Milinovic heads over the bar from 10 yards out when really he should have hit the target.

3 mins: Slovenia break with pace through Amir Karic, but his deep cross is just overhit. However, Milenko Acimovic wins a free-kick out on the touchline.

2 mins: Early possession for South Africa's Sibusiso Zuma and he wins a free-kick. However, Ntuthuko Sibaya sends the ball beyond his strikers and out for a goal-kick.

1 min: The game begins at the whistle of Argentine referee Angel Sanchez Ruzafa.

Pre-match: It's a hot day in Daegu as these two Group B sides clash knowing that victory would put either in second spot in the standings. For Slovenia, much of the build-up has surrounded Zlatko Zahovic, who has been sent home from the finals, but they must get a result to avoid elimination.