A late strike denied Slovenia a first-ever win in a European Championship as Serbia snatched a 1-1 draw on Thursday.

Zan Karnicnik’s 69th-minute goal put Slovenia on the brink of a historic win until substitute Luka Jovic levelled deep in stoppage time.

The goal sent the Serbia fans into raucous joy, but also saw them throw flares and other objects onto the field.

The equaliser was virtually the last action as the referee blew full-time immediately after the players restarted. The Slovenia players collapsed to the ground in disappointment.

It also would have been their first win in a major tournament since victory over Algeria in the 2010 World Cup.

Slovenia play England in their final group C match on Tuesday when Serbia face Denmark. Serbia lost to England in their opener.

With both teams needing a win to boost their chances of progressing, the match started at a fast pace and Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic had to make two early saves. Those two shots on target in the first eight minutes were as many as Slovenia had in total in their draw with Denmark.

Serbia withstood the waves of Slovenia attacks and had their first chance in the 27th minute, but Dusan Vlahovic’s header was straight at goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The best chance of the half fell to Slovenia, a thunderous effort from Timi Elsnik which crashed off the right post.

Slovenia eventually broke the deadlock with a move started and finished by Karnicnik. The defender won the ball deep inside his own half and ran some 40 yards before picking out Elsnik on the left and racing into the box to collect the cross and tap home at the back post.

Serbia threw everything at Slovenia in the final stages. Even Rajkovic came up for the final corner, but it was Jovic who leapt highest to head it past Oblak in the fifth minute of added time.