POLOKWANE, South Africa — Hey England and America, look who’s on top of your World Cup group. Little Slovenia!

Robert Koren scored a late goal yesterday to give Slovenia a 1-0 win over 10-man Algeria in the teams’ tournament opener, putting the World Cup’s smallest nation — population 2 million, about the size of Houston — ahead of the United States and England in Group C.

The Slovenian captain struck a long-range shot that Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi misjudged and allowed to bounce into the net off his arm in the 79th minute.

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“I was just lucky to see it go in like that,” Koren said.

Algerian coach Rabah Saadane said the new World Cup ball was a challenge for goalkeepers.

“Everyone saw what happened with the ball, and what happened [Saturday] with England’s goalkeeper,” Saadane said. “You have to adjust to the flight of the ball.”

Algeria substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was ejected seven minutes earlier, picking up a second yellow card for handling the ball inside the Slovenian penalty area.

It was the first World Cup victory for Slovenia. The Balkan country lost all three of its group matches in the 2002 tournament.

“It was a mental victory,” said Slovenian coach Matjaz Kek. “We wanted to win so much, so it’s great for our confidence to get that win.”