Slovenia 2-2 Sweden Player Ratings: Yasin Ayari 8.5/10 Rated as Late Drama Sees Teams Share Points in a 2-2 Draw

Slovenia and Sweden served up an absolute thriller in Ljubljana, with both teams walking away with a hard-earned point after a pulsating 2-2 draw. The visitors were deemed favourites to win this fixture, but the home team had some other plans. Slovenia came from behind twice in this heavyweight match.

Till the last whistle, neither team backed down, trying to kill the game with one key moment, but a ‘DRAW’ was the deserved outcome of how this match went. Sweden drew first blood, looking comfortable after Anthony Elanga's opener as they seemed to have the upper hand in the first half.

But Slovenia came out for the second half with renewed purpose. They scored the equalizer almost immediately, completely changing the dynamic of the game. And this shifted the momentum entirely. Just when we thought it was heading for a draw, Sweden struck again, seemingly landing the knockout punch. However, the hosts showed incredible resilience, snatching a dramatic late equalizer to share the spoils in this incredible match. A 2-2 draw felt like a fair result in the end, given the heart shown by both sides. However, Swedish football players will be gutted with how the game ended. Here are the Slovenia vs Sweden player ratings.

Sweden Player Ratings vs Slovenia

Here are the Sweden player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Robin Olsen - 5.0: A night to forget for the Swedish keeper. He was directly at fault for one of the goals, a costly error that you just can't make at this level. While he made a couple of saves, he looked uncertain and jittery throughout. We noticed his distribution was also poor, only completing 42% of his passes. It just wasn't his day.

Defenders

Hjalmar Ekdal - 6.0: Had a very average game. He was tidy in possession for the most part but really struggled in his physical battles. He lost 5 of his 8 duels, which is a worrying statistic for a central defender. He also committed three fouls, putting his team under unnecessary pressure at times.

Isak Hien - 6.5: The captain led from the back with a flurry of activity. He made an impressive 8 clearances and 3 interceptions, showing good reading of the game. However, he was a bit too aggressive, earning a yellow card and losing 7 duels. What stood out to us was his desperation to win the ball, which sometimes led to him being rash.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 7.0: A really solid performance from the left-back. He was strong in the tackle, winning 8 of his 12 duels, and drew 4 fouls. Going forward, he created a big chance and looked like a constant threat. From our perspective, he was one of Sweden's most reliable players on the pitch.

Midfielders

Daniel Svensson - 6.5: A tireless performance in the middle of the park. He recovered the ball 6 times and had a decent delivery when he got forward. He didn't produce any standout moments of magic, but he provided a necessary defensive shield and kept the game moving. A functional, if not flashy, display.

Anthony Elanga - 7.5: He was electric for the 63 minutes he was on the pitch. Scored a well-taken goal to give his team the lead and was a constant menace with his pace and direct running. He looked confident and was always looking to make something happen. It was a surprise to see him substituted.

Anton Salétros - 6.5: He saw a lot of the ball with 84 touches, but he was incredibly wasteful, losing possession 22 times. That's just too high. On the positive side, he did make 5 clearances and won a decent number of his duels. A very mixed performance that left us wanting more from him.

Yasin Ayari - 8.5: Simply outstanding. This was a breakout performance. He scored what should have been the winner and also provided an assist. He was a nightmare for the Slovenian defence, attempting 5 dribbles and constantly driving forward. Without a doubt, he was Sweden's highest-rated player and the man of the match in our eyes.

Hugo Larsson - 6.5: A quiet but effective game from the midfielder. He kept the ball moving with a 79% pass accuracy and made a few important recoveries. He didn't offer much in the final third, but he did his job in the engine room without any fuss. A mature performance.

Alexander Bernhardsson - 7.0: He was having a very good game before being taken off. He was tenacious, winning all three of his tackles, and created a chance for his teammates. He put in a real shift on the right-hand side. We were disappointed to see his evening cut short after 64 minutes.

Forwards

Viktor Gyökeres - 6.5: It was a deeply frustrating night for the star striker. He did manage to bag an assist, but his overall game was poor. He lost an astonishing 13 out of 15 duels and gave away 5 fouls. He was physically dominated and couldn't get into the game as he would have liked.

Substitutes

Niclas Eliasson - N/A: Came on but barely had an impact besides picking up a needless yellow card.

Alexander Isak - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make a difference after replacing the excellent Ayari.

Benjamin Nygren - N/A: Missed a glorious headed chance late in the game that could have won it.

Manager

Jon Dahl Tomasson - 6.5: His team played some good football and scored two well-worked goals. However, his inability to see out a lead on two separate occasions is a major concern. The substitutions didn't have the desired effect, and his side looked vulnerable defensively in the second half. He has work to do.

Slovenia Player Ratings vs Sweden

Here are the Slovenia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 6.0: A quiet evening for a goalkeeper of his world-class stature. He conceded two goals and only made one save. There wasn't much he could do about either goal, but you always expect something special from him. It was a standard performance, nothing more.

Defenders

Zan Karnicnik - 6.5: A very solid and dependable performance at right-back. He won 100% of his duels, which is incredibly impressive. He also got forward to create a chance. He was one of Slovenia's most consistent performers, a player you can rely on.

Jaka Bijol - 5.5: A game he'll want to forget. He made a glaring error that led directly to a goal, which completely undermined his other contributions. Despite making 5 interceptions, that single moment of madness cost his team dearly. He looked shaky and bereft of confidence after that.

Erik Janza - 6.0: A tale of two halves for the left-back. He was a threat going forward, creating two chances with his crossing. However, he was a liability in possession, losing the ball a staggering 23 times. His final ball was often lacking, and he was caught out of position defensively more than once.

Vanja Drkusic - 6.0: It was a real physical battle for him at the back. He won a good number of his duels but also picked up a booking and was dribbled past twice. He was aggressive, sometimes overly so, which made him a bit of a liability. An inconsistent display.

Midfielders

Sandi Lovrić - 7.5: What a goal to get his team back in the game! His strike from outside the box was sensational. He was a bundle of energy for the 70 minutes he was on the pitch, driving his team forward. A key figure in Slovenia's comeback.

Timi Max Elsnik - 7.0: Provided the assist for the first goal and was a constant presence in midfield. He was not afraid to take players on, and he put in a good defensive shift with three tackles. It was a great all-around performance before he was substituted.

Petar Stojanović - 6.0: A very difficult evening for him. He was involved in a lot of battles but came out on the losing end most of the time, losing 8 of his 9 duels. He also committed 4 fouls, showing his frustration. He worked hard but lacked quality.

Adam Gnezda Cerin - 6.5: A tidy and composed performance in the heart of midfield. He had an excellent 89% pass completion rate and made 4 crucial interceptions. He did his job quietly but effectively, providing a solid base for the more attacking players.

Forwards

Andraz Sporar - 6.5: He was a real handful for the Swedish defenders. He had a shot on target saved and was clever in drawing 4 fouls. He didn't score, but his movement and physicality created space for others. A selfless performance.

Benjamin Sesko - 7.0: He showed his class by providing an assist and being a focal point for the attack. He drew fouls and linked up play intelligently. While he didn't get on the scoresheet himself, his presence was crucial for Slovenia's attacking play. A mature performance from the young striker.

Substitutes

Zan Vipotnik - 8.0: The hero of the hour! He came off the bench and scored the dramatic late equalizer with a cool finish. A game-changing substitution that earned his team a valuable point. What an impact.

Dejan Petrovic - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Svit Seslar - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Jan Mlakar - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

Matjaz Kek - 7.5: A tactical masterclass from the Slovenian manager. His team showed incredible character to fight back from a losing position twice. His decision to bring on Zan Vipotnik proved to be a stroke of genius. He got his tactics spot on and deserves immense credit for the result.