Resilient Tolmin Rallies Late to Deny IB 1975 Ljubljana in Four-Goal Thriller

By Staff Writer, The Washington Post

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — On a brisk autumn afternoon at Športni park Štefana Beleta, neither IB 1975 Ljubljana nor Tolmin found the satisfaction of victory. Yet for Tolmin, whose stirring second-half comeback salvaged a 2-2 draw, the point may prove more valuable than the shadow it casts on IB 1975’s home turf.

The match, crackling with urgency and ambition from both sides, offered a window into the temper of two clubs striving to recalibrate after a stuttering September. Both teams arrived needing a statement: Ljubljana after successive defeats against Zidgrad Idrija and Dob, Tolmin following a dispiriting home loss to Izola. What unfolded was a testament to their resolve—and a reminder of how tight margins shape the 3. SNL - West’s congested mid-table.

A Tale of Two Halves

IB 1975 Ljubljana, whose near-century of history is matched only by the expectation of its loyal supporters, drew first blood after just 17 minutes. Forward Nejc Križaj—so often their spark—pounced on a defensive lapse to slot coolly past Tolmin’s Luka Pahor, sending the home bench into early celebration. Spurred on, Ljubljana pressed their advantage. By the 28th minute, a darting run by midfielder Timotej Novak earned a set piece on the edge of the box. Defender Aljaž Potokar rose above the melee from the ensuing delivery, glancing a header that doubled the lead.

For a spell, it seemed the hosts might cruise. Tolmin, however, slowly found rhythm. Their passes grew crisper, their tackles sharper. Just before halftime, a warning: winger Žan Zorc rattled the post with a speculative effort that had the home crowd briefly holding its breath.

Tolmin’s Answer

If the first half belonged to Ljubljana, the second bore all the hallmarks of a Tolmin revival. Manager Aljoša Kovačič’s halftime adjustments—most notably the introduction of the energetic Marko Oblak—brought fresh verve. The visitors’ urgency was rewarded in the 57th minute, when a quick sequence of passes carved open the right channel. Midfielder Jure Novak arrived late in the box, sweeping a driven cross under goalkeeper Tadej Krivic to halve the deficit.

From there, momentum shifted definitively. Ljubljana’s earlier assurance gave way to anxiety. Tolmin pressed higher, forcing turnovers and pinning the hosts back. The equalizer felt inevitable, and it arrived in dramatic fashion in the 81st minute. Tolmin’s talisman, captain Luka Vidmar, seized upon a loose ball outside the area and uncorked a curling strike that sailed past a rooted Krivic—a goal worthy of salvaging a point.

Tempers flared in the closing moments, with Ljubljana’s veteran midfielder Rok Kavčič shown a yellow for dissent. But despite both sides probing for a late winner, neither found the required composure in front of goal.

Context and Consequence

For IB 1975 Ljubljana, the draw extends a winless streak to three—a run that belies the progress glimpsed in September but exposes defensive frailties that have become all too familiar at Štefana Beleta. The squad, embedded mid-table, now faces a delicate stretch where momentum must be rediscovered if aspirations of a top-half finish are to be revived.

Tolmin, too, remain adrift from the division’s leading pack. Their recent form—just one win in five—reflects both the competitiveness of the league and the team’s own inconsistency. But Saturday’s comeback may inject a needed dose of belief, particularly given a head-to-head history that has seen Tolmin struggle when visiting Ljubljana.

With both clubs locked in a dense battle for points—standings that see neither able to break decisively upward nor in true danger of falling toward the bottom—the season hangs in balance. Every result, every moment, now carries added weight.

Looking Ahead

As October deepens, so too does the sense that time is short for turns in fortune. IB 1975 Ljubljana, forced to reckon with late-game vulnerabilities, will look to regroup ahead of a crucial away fixture at Dren Vrhnika. For Tolmin, Saturday’s draw offers not merely a point, but a reminder: resilience and belief, stubbornly pursued, can be enough to change the narrative.

In Slovenia’s fiercely contested third tier, nothing is given. But on a lively Saturday in Ljubljana, both teams proved that when pride is on the line, no lead is truly safe—and no battle finished until the final whistle sounds.