David Jeffrey's side face an uphill battle in Slovenia

Denesh Demirovic scored with a fine right foot volley on 14 minutes and the midfielder netted his second with a low shot past Alan Mannus 15 minutes later.

Linfield striker Peter Thompson missed from the penalty spot on 37 but Mark Dickson converted another spot-kick on 58 minutes to reduce the arrears.

Jani Sturm added the third for the Slovenian champions after 74 minutes.

Mannus made two fine saves for the home side early on and at the other end Mitjah Pirih denied Aidan O'Kane.

Demirovic opened the scoring with his spectacular volley over the defensive wall following a free-kick, leaving Mannus helpless.

The Slovenians broke quickly on the counter-attack to increase their lead, carving open the Blues defence and Demorivic scoring with a right-foot shot.

O'Kane saw a free-kick saved by Pirih and then Thompson missed from the spot after the referee adjudged that Paul McAreavey had been brought down inside the area.

Tim Mouncey and Thompson had early second half chances before Dickson found the net with his mishit penalty after McAreavey was brought down by the goalkeeper.

O'Kane volleyed wide from a Stephen Douglas cross and then Rusim Dedic crossed for Sturm to score and restore the two-goal advantage ahead of next Wednesday's second leg.

Linfield: Mannus, Ervin, McShane, Mulgrew, Murphy, O'Kane, Thompson, Magennis, Dickson, McAreavey, Bailie.

Gorica: Pirih, Srebrnic, Jokic, Livec, Nebojsa Kovacevic, Dukic, Denesh Demirovic, Burgic, Sturm, Petrovic, Suler.