Slovenia 2 Luxembourg 0 Slovenia struck twice in the first half to sink Luxembourg on Saturday and claim their first points of their Euro 2008 Group G qualifying campaign.
Milivoje Novakovic and Robert Koren got the goals which underlined Slovenia's dominance, before a quiet second half allowed the hosts to canter to the win which sees Branko Oblak's side climb off the foot of the table.
The result, Luxembourg's 28th defeat in the past 30 games, was never in doubt despite the recent upturn in the visitors' performances, marked most notably by their heroics in nearly holding Holland to a draw last month.
There were, however, to be no potential surprises on Saturday in Ljubljana.
The closest the visitors came to a goal was Aurelien Joachim's wide drive from distance on 16 minutes, and his weak header five minutes later.
The rest of the game was a procession.
Nastja Ceh narrowly failed to get the ball rolling within two minutes and Klemen Lavric should have done better with a header six minutes later.
Novakovic offered a warning of things to come when his 16th-minute drive grazed the upright while he also stung Jonathan Joubert's palms eight minutes later.
Luxembourg, however, had exhausted all their luck by the 30th minute.
Branko Ilic swung in a cross from the right by-line and Novakovic connected with a thumping header from 12 yards out to give the hosts the advantage.
Lavric then rattled the woodwork with his angled drive, before Koren made certain of the points with a spectacular 30-yard drive one minute before half-time.
Novakovic and Koren had chances to extend their tallies in the second half, while Rene Peters attempted to inspire a Luxembourg comeback, but no more goals were forthcoming as Slovenia kick-started their campaign.
Teams
Slovenia Borut Mavric, Ilic, Matej Mavric, Cesar, Jokic, Ceh,Acimovic (Komac 75), Birsa, Koren, Novakovic,Lavric (Burgic 85).
Subs Not Used: Samir Handanovic, Zlogar, Lazic, Sukalo, Cipot.
Booked: Ilic.
Goals: Novakovic 30, Koren 44.
Luxembourg Joubert (Gillet 72), Kintziger, Hoffmann, Reiter,Peters, Strasser, Bettmer, Joachim (Huss 66),Lombardelli (Charles Leweck 42), Remy, Mutsch.
Subs Not Used: Collette, Payal, Plein, Heinz.
Booked: Hoffmann.
Att: 3,500
Ref: Panicos Kailis (Cyprus).
