Slovenia have halved the deficit of their Euro 2016 playoff with Ukraine as they lead 1-0 at half time in the second leg, leaving the aggregate score at 2-1 to the visiting side.

Both teams flew into tackles in a feisty first half, with Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar and Ukraine's Yehven Konoplyanka earning yellow cards inside the first five minutes.

However, just 10 minutes after entering the referee's book, Cesar gave hope to the hosts as he nodded home a rebound from close range after Andriy Pyatov had made two saves in quick succession.

The game continued to be broken up by a series of cynical fouls by both sets of players and chances were few and far between.

However, Yevhen Seleznyov forced Samir Handanovic into a low save to his left following a quick breakaway by the visitors to keep Slovenia's hopes alive.