Beltinci Strike Late, Seize Crucial Away Win at Dekani as 2. SNL Promotion Race Intensifies

It was a match defined by tension and the stubborn refusal of either side to yield—until the 90th minute, when Beltinci, riding a wave of recent dominance, found the single moment of clarity needed to topple a resolute Dekani side, 1-0, and keep the upper reaches of the 2. SNL table within tantalizing reach.

For much of Sunday afternoon at an overcast, largely anonymous venue, the match staged a classic contrast of ambition and anxiety. Beltinci, surging of late—unbeaten in five, having outscored opponents 17-1 in that stretch—arrived in fifth place but playing with the confidence of a side seeking far more than midtable obscurity. Dekani, by contrast, fought not only their visitors but the weight of a results drought. Four winless, goalless outings in a row had left their supporters restless and their season teetering.

The match’s opening half was a study in frustration. Beltinci pressed high, attempting to replicate the attacking rhythm that had so recently dispatched Jesenice and Krško with ease. Dekani, pragmatic and aware of their recent frailties, defended in disciplined banks of four, allowing few spaces in the final third. The sides traded speculative efforts; the best chance before halftime fell to Beltinci’s forward line, whose glancing header forced a sharp, diving save from the Dekani goalkeeper in the 38th minute.

As the second half progressed, tension mounted. Dekani, buoyed by a vocal local contingent, edged forward in fits and starts, earning consecutive corners around the hour mark but failing to produce a shot on target. With every passing minute, a goalless draw—the result of their last match at Bilje—seemed destined to repeat. But Beltinci’s recent history suggested otherwise.

The introduction of fresh attacking legs in the final quarter signaled Beltinci’s intent. Their midfield began to find pockets of space, drawing Dekani’s defenders out of shape. In the 77th minute, a Beltinci substitute nearly broke the deadlock, rattling the crossbar with a powerful 20-yard effort and sending a warning that the visitors were not content to settle.

Dekani’s resolve finally faltered at the bitter end. With the clock striking 90, Beltinci seized their moment. Exploiting Dekani’s fatigued backline, a swift passing move found Beltinci’s attacker—his name lost to the official ledger, but his impact indelible—slipping between defenders inside the six-yard box. The finish was clinical: a low drive beneath the sprawling keeper, punctuating a day of persistent effort with the ruthlessness of promotion contenders.

For Beltinci, the implications are clear. The win lifts them to 23 points through ten matches, solidifying their presence inside the promotion playoff picture. Perhaps more importantly, the manner of victory—patient, professional, and punctuated by a late winner—reinforces the qualities that define teams destined for the top flight.

Dekani, meanwhile, descend further into a spiral that will test their character. Five matches, no goals from open play, and just one point from fifteen available—a run that has sapped confidence and left their campaign in a precarious mid-autumn malaise. The solitary bright spot remains their steadfast defensive work; aside from the stoppage-time heartbreak, they limited one of the league’s most prolific attacks to speculative efforts for long stretches.

Historically, this fixture rarely finds a decisive edge—recent years have seen the two sides trade narrow wins and hard-fought draws. Today, it was Beltinci’s resilience that proved decisive.

No cards marred the contest, but the sense of urgency—palpable in every aerial duel and every tackle—spoke to both teams’ awareness of the stakes. For Beltinci, the chase is on: an opportunity to build on momentum, close the gap on the leaders, and dream of promotion that no longer feels distant. For Dekani, the coming weeks promise introspection and the urgent search for goals that can resuscitate a fading season.

As the 2. SNL season turns towards its heart, matches like this grow in meaning. Beltinci walk away with three points earned the hard way, and the conviction that their campaign may yet carry the scent of silverware. Dekani, battered but unbroken, face urgent questions—and the hope that somewhere among the autumn leaves, their form might turn.