The 2012 Slovenian Cup final was a football match played between Celje and Maribor on 23 May 2012 at the Stoà ¾ice Stadium, Ljubljana. It was the final match of the 2011âÂÂ12 Slovenian Football Cup, the 21st season of Slovenia's football knockout competition, the Slovenian Football Cup. Celje were participating in their sixth final; they had previously won one and lost four. Maribor were appearing in their tenth final; they had previously won six and lost three.
Celje entered the competition in the first round and Maribor in the second (round of 16) after receiving a bye as one of the top four clubs in the 2010âÂÂ11 Slovenian PrvaLiga. Matches up to the quarter-finals were contested on a one-off basis, with extra time and penalties being played if a match ended in a draw. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were played over two legs. To reach the final Celje defeated Grad, Triglav Kranj, Interblock and à  enÃÂur. Maribor's route to the final comprised victories over Adria, Zavràand Rudar Velenje.
Watched by a crowd of 4,132, Alen Romih scored in the 36th minute giving Celje the lead at the end of the first half. Dalibor Volaà ¡ was substituted on at the start of the second half and equalised for Maribor in under a minute. The score remained 1âÂÂ1 after 90 minutes and the game went to extra time. Within a minute of the start Celje restored their lead through Benjamin VerbiÃÂ. Maribor levelled the scores for a second time in the 99th minute with Matic ÃÂrnic scoring. At full-time with the score being 2âÂÂ2, the cup winners were to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Celje missed three of their five penalties while Maribor converted three of five to win the shoot-out 3âÂÂ2.
The victory meant Maribor won the Slovenian Football Cup for the seventh time. They later played against their Eternal derby rivals, the 2011âÂÂ12 Slovenian PrvaLiga runners-up, Olimpija Ljubljana in the 2012 Slovenian Supercup. Given Maribor had already qualified for Europe as league champions, their UEFA Europa League spot was awarded to runners-up Celje.
Celje entered the competition in the first round. They were drawn away to Slovenian Third League side Grad. Goals from Saà ¡a Bakariàand Dejan Krljanoviàgave Celje a 2âÂÂ0 lead at half-time; each team scored one goal in the second half with Celje winning 3âÂÂ1. Their second round (round of 16) draw was away to fellow PrvaLiga side Triglav Kranj. Iztok MoÃÂivnik's twelfth-minute goal was enough for Celje to progress through. Their quarter-final opponents were Second League side Interblock. The first leg was played at Interblock's home stadium. Second half goals from Andraà ¾ à  porar and Maximiliano KlebÃÂar gave the home side a surprise 2âÂÂ0 advantage going into the second leg. Within 22 minutes of the second match Celje scored twice to wipe out Interblock's advantage and went on to win the match 7âÂÂ0 to reach the semi-finals. Celje's final tie before the final was against Second League side à  enÃÂur; with à  enÃÂur at home first. In both legs Celje game from a goal down to draw 1âÂÂ1, the second leg remained at 1âÂÂ1 after extra time and Celje won the subsequent penalty shootout 8âÂÂ7.
As one of the top four clubs in the 2010âÂÂ11 Slovenian PrvaLiga Maribor were given a bye into the second round. They were drawn away to Third League side Adria. A goal from Zoran Lesjak in the first half and Dalibor Volaà ¡ in the second saw Maribor win 2âÂÂ0 to qualify for the quarter-finals. Their first two legged tie of the competition was against Zavràalso of the Third League. The first match ended 1âÂÂ1 and a 76th-minute goal from Etien Velikonja in the second match was enough for Maribor to reach the semi-finals. Fellow PrvaLiga member Rudar Velenje were Maribor's last tie before the final. They won both legs (away first) 4âÂÂ2 with forward Etien Velikonja scoring a brace in each. The 8âÂÂ4 aggregate score is the highest scoring semi-final of the competition with 12 goals breaking the 11 goals record in the 2009âÂÂ10 semi-final between Celje and Maribor.
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