Australia, with a tie and a humiliating loss in its first two World Cup games, wanted to beat Serbia just to prove they could win. They did, but their effort was not enough to advance them in the Round of Sixteen. Based on goal differential, Australia finished third and is going home.
Serbia came into the match with a better chance of moving on. Having scored three points by beating Germany, (the same side that had soundly whipped Australia 4–0) Serbia needed a win to advance, or a tie with a lot of goals. Serbia didn’t get the win, and despite a host of good chances, managed only a single score. Serbia, too, will be homebound this evening.
The first half was all Serbia. Serbia outplayed and outran Australia, and only the brilliant goalkeeping of Aussie Mark Schwarzer, and the poor shooting of the Serbian attackers, kept the game scoreless.
12 minutes in, Serbain midfielder Milos Krasic got behind the Australian defense, beat Schwarzer, and missed the net. Four minutes later Zdravko Kuzmanovic got in close for a clear shot, and also missed.
A minute after that a header off a cross to Nikola Zigic, right in front of the net, went straight up instead of in. Five minutes later, Branislav Ivanovic got the ball six feet from the net, and Schwarzer made a strong one-handed save.
Thus went the half. Serbia got great chances, and missed, and whatever came close to the net, Schwarzer grabbed of batted away.
Australian striker Tim Cahill was awarded “Man of the Match” for scoring goals, but Schwarzer is the man who kept Australia in the match through the whole first half.
The second half was the complete reverse. Australia controlled the ball, had the good chances, and outplayed the Serbian side.
66 minutes in, Australia subbed striker Brett Holman for midfielder Carl Valeri, which immediately boosted the offense. Two minutes later, Tim Cahill took a long looping pass from 40 yards out and powered a perfect header past Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Five minutes later, Brett Holman picked up the ball at midfield and charged unmolested to within 25 yards of the goal, where he blasted a shot into the net, giving Australia a two-goal lead.
Finally Serbia woke up and began playing like they wanted to win. 83 minutes in, the pressure paid off as Tosic got clear for a long shot on the Australian net. Schwarzer tried to catch the ball at his ankles, but it rebounded straight out to the waiting foot of Marko Pantelic, who punched it home.
Too little, too late for Serbia, however, and too little for Australia, too. Australia got the 2–1 win but didn’t score enough to edge out Ghana, while Serbia ended up in last place in Group D.
Serbia came into the match with a better chance of moving on. Having scored three points by beating Germany, (the same side that had soundly whipped Australia 4–0) Serbia needed a win to advance, or a tie with a lot of goals. Serbia didn’t get the win, and despite a host of good chances, managed only a single score. Serbia, too, will be homebound this evening.
The first half was all Serbia. Serbia outplayed and outran Australia, and only the brilliant goalkeeping of Aussie Mark Schwarzer, and the poor shooting of the Serbian attackers, kept the game scoreless.
12 minutes in, Serbain midfielder Milos Krasic got behind the Australian defense, beat Schwarzer, and missed the net. Four minutes later Zdravko Kuzmanovic got in close for a clear shot, and also missed.
A minute after that a header off a cross to Nikola Zigic, right in front of the net, went straight up instead of in. Five minutes later, Branislav Ivanovic got the ball six feet from the net, and Schwarzer made a strong one-handed save.
Thus went the half. Serbia got great chances, and missed, and whatever came close to the net, Schwarzer grabbed of batted away.
Australian striker Tim Cahill was awarded “Man of the Match” for scoring goals, but Schwarzer is the man who kept Australia in the match through the whole first half.
The second half was the complete reverse. Australia controlled the ball, had the good chances, and outplayed the Serbian side.
66 minutes in, Australia subbed striker Brett Holman for midfielder Carl Valeri, which immediately boosted the offense. Two minutes later, Tim Cahill took a long looping pass from 40 yards out and powered a perfect header past Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Five minutes later, Brett Holman picked up the ball at midfield and charged unmolested to within 25 yards of the goal, where he blasted a shot into the net, giving Australia a two-goal lead.
Finally Serbia woke up and began playing like they wanted to win. 83 minutes in, the pressure paid off as Tosic got clear for a long shot on the Australian net. Schwarzer tried to catch the ball at his ankles, but it rebounded straight out to the waiting foot of Marko Pantelic, who punched it home.
Too little, too late for Serbia, however, and too little for Australia, too. Australia got the 2–1 win but didn’t score enough to edge out Ghana, while Serbia ended up in last place in Group D.
