Just as Scotland dared to dream of continuing their charge towards Russia, their potentially memorable night in Slovenia turned into an all too familiar feeling of despair.
Scotland got the breakthrough they needed early on against a Slovenian side which had not previously conceded a home goal throughout the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Leigh Griffiths has risen to the challenge of becoming the man to deliver in big moments, and he did so again when he gave the Scots the led just after the half-hour mark.
Scotland did not have the resilience to hold on to the lead however, with Slovenia’s half-time substitute Roman Bezjak the man to break Scottish hearts.
Although Robert Snodgrass equalised late on, the draw was not enough due to Slovakia’s victory against Malta, which ensured Scotland ended Group F in third place.
Following a poor start to the group, the Scots’ improvement was so vast they needed just this win to secure a play-off spot, but their momentum came to a crushing halt at the decisive moment, against a Slovenian side that had nothing to play for.
Strachan opted to change from the tried and tested 4-5-1 system, introducing attacker Chris Martin to partner Leigh Griffiths in a 4-4-2. James McArthur also slotted into the midfield, with James Forrest and James Morrison dropping out.
The equation was simple. The danger of a scenario which could have seen Scotland finish second in their group, yet still miss out on a play-off place as the runners-up with the lowest points tally, had been eradicated by Belgium’s thrilling 4-3 win against Bosnia the previous night. Scotland went into the game knowing a victory would seal their place at next month’s play-offs. There was no looking elsewhere for favours.
With qualification effectively impossible for the hosts, most of the energy within the Stozice Stadium was provided by the Tartan Army and Scotland tested the hosts’ defence early on, with their first noteworthy attempt coming on 17 minutes when Martin saw his low drilled strike comfortably gathered by Jan Oblak.
The menace was growing, and on 32 minutes their moment arrived. Skipper Darren Fletcher’s cross was only partially cut out by the home defence, with McArthur nodding it back into the run of Griffiths who steadied himself before angling an assured low drive into Oblak’s far corner.
Directly in front of the Scots supporters, the strike prompted jubilation and but could they hold on?
Slovenia were keen to avoid finishing the campaign on a disappointing note, with Matavz hitting the side-netting with another drive just before half-time. The hosts carried their threat into the second-half, with a swerving long-range attempt by Rajko Rotman causing Gordon to parry over.
The danger signs were not heeded, with the moment Scotland were dreading arriving on 53 minutes. Josip Ilicic’s free-kick to the far post where it found Bezjak – one of two half-time substitutes – and he steered a header into the bottom corner which left Gordon static.
The goal brought the home crowd to life and Gordon was twice called upon to keep the scoreline level following hesitant defending, with an excellent one-handed save to deny Bezjak before he clutched another strike from Ilicic.
Scotland needed to do it all over again, with a frustrated strike from Griffiths trundling wide before Ikechi Anya, brought on to replace Martin, went on a striding run which ended with a shot straight at Oblak.
Misery followed on 72 minutes however. Ilcic’s corner was dealt with horrendously by the Scots defence, with the ball eventually working its way to Bezjak to sidefoot home.
A crushing moment. Scotland appeared to have spurned the perfect chance to get back into the match when Fletcher missed a sitter on 77 minutes. The midfielder atoned 11 minutes later however, crossing for Snodgrass to hook past Oblak from close-range.
That set up a frantic finish, with Slovenia managing to clear the danger moments later when Robertson’s deflected shot spun towards goal.
There was time for more late drama, with Cesar sent off for an altercation with Christophe Berra, before Robert Snodgrass saw his header held by Oblak deep into stoppage time, effectively ending the Scots’ charge.
