Maribor came from behind to beat Nafta 3-2 in the Slovenian First League on Sunday, a result that keeps them top of the table with seven games played. The visitors had to work for every point, conceding twice before finding their rhythm after the break. Nafta looked dangerous early on, but their structure crumbled when Maribor started playing the game properly.
T. Cipot opened the scoring for the hosts in the seventh minute, a moment that gave Nafta confidence. Z. Karnicnik equalised for Maribor twelve minutes later, and by then the visitors were beginning to control the tempo. L. Poredos restored Nafta's lead just before half-time, but the second half belonged to Maribor — A. Marosa struck in the fifty-second minute and Cipot pulled one back for the hosts in the seventy-seventh. And here's the thing: Maribor still needed a winner.
The statistics tell the story without embellishment. Maribor had 63 per cent possession and 132 attacks compared to Nafta's 85, but possession alone doesn't win matches. Shots on target were 6 to 3 in Maribor's favour, and they created more from set pieces with eight corners to one. The hosts switched off at a set piece in the end — that's when it comes down to concentration, not just effort.
Nafta sit eighth with seven points after two wins, one draw and four defeats. They did not travel to make up the numbers, but the result extends Maribor's unbeaten run to seven games. To be fair, they've been second to everything at times this season, but they held their nerve here. Maribor move clear at the summit with fifteen points, four wins and three draws without a single loss.
