MARIBOR, Slovenia -- A first-half goal from Zlatko Dedic earned Slovenia a place at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa, eliminating Russia on the away goals rule.
Slovenia surprised Russia with its attacking game, giving the visitors little space to play.
Russia won 2-1 in Moscow on Saturday, but Slovenia's 1-0 win was enough to secure its berth to South Africa.
"My guys became imortal!" Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek declared.
Defender Bojan Jokic was euphoric: "We were simply better! All of Slovenia is with us!"
Slovenia was the better side from the start and one minute before halftime, Valter Birsa passed the ball to Vfl Bochum striker Dedic, who shot into the left corner of Igor Akinfeev's net.
Slovenia, which gained independence in 1991, played its only previous World Cup in 2002 in South Korea, but lost all three of its matches.
Nervousness seemed to increasingly affect the Russian team as the match went on and Alexander Kerzhakov was red-carded in 66th minute for a foul on Slovenia's goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. Yury Zhirkov was then sent-off in the 90th minute for scuffling with Slovenia's reserve players.
Underlining the importance that both nations attached to the match, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev travelled to Maribor to watch the game alongside his counterpart, Danilo Turk.
Russia's business jet set was also there, including Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovic.
Slovenia applied huge pressure from the start and had the first big chance already in the fourth minute, when Valter Birsa hit the ball from the penalty area straight to Milivoje Novakovic, who was alone before Akinfeev's goal. But Novakovic appeared surprised with the early chance and missed it.
Russia almost got an own goal seven minutes later, as CSKA Moscow defender Sergei Ignashevich, caughting the ball from Slovenia's Andraz Kirm, hit it toward the goal instead of the corner. Luckily for them, it hit the bar.
Roman Pavlyucenko took the initiative in 19th minute, shooting the ball from the egde of the penalty area, but missing the goal.
Slovenia was threatened in 40th minute, when Ignashevich had a free kick - but his strong shot just hit Novakovic's head.
Russia had another big try in 85th minute, when Zhirkov attacked from five meters, but Handanovic caught the ball. In counterattack, Dedic missed the goal from seven meters.
As the match finished, the crowd -- estimated at 22,000, a substantial number for the 2-million nation and the small stadium in Maribor -- exploded in joy. Players were running around the field, jumping and waving to the audience.
In the past, Slovenia, an alpine nation, hasn't recorded much success in soccer, but their team's achievemnts in qualifications has triggered a national football fever.
The fans are now waiting whether Prime Minister Borut Pahor will fulfill his promise: To clean players' boots if they qualify.
