Serbia lost to Australia by 2-1 for their last Group D game played in the Mbombela Stadium of Nelspruit, and both teams are now out of the World Cup 2010 finals. Serbia could have made it to the round of 16 even with a draw, and while being dangerous and having the control of the match failed miserably to score more goals and take some points against Australia.
Miloš Krasić made the first two big chances for Serbia but goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer blocked his shot at 6′, and later on Krasić dribbled passed Schwarzer but sent the ball outside in front of an empty net. Schwarzer blocked another shot from Branislav Ivanović in 23′, Nikola Žigić barely missed the target with a close header a few minutes later. Australia had their only chance of the entire first half in 39′, but Brett Emerton, Tim Cahill, and Joshua Kennedy were all unable to take advantage of a mistake from Serbia’s defence.
The second half started with the same pace as the initial 45 minutes, Serbia had the ball possession and was making good chances with Žigić in 53′ and Kuzmanović right after. Serbian coach Radomir Antić tried to make a few substitutions still looking for a goal that finally came in 69′ for…Australia: Luke Wilkshire sent a long ball right in the heart of Serbia’s defence, Tim Cahill jumped higher than everyone else to score a goal with a header from the penalty spot. Four minutes later and while Serbia was still trying to come back from this first slap, Brett Holman scored another one for the Socceroos with a long shot.
Serbia’s hopes were alive again in 84′ when Pantelić took the rebound after a shot by Zoran Tošić, and had no problem pushing the ball to the back of the net. Serbia now wanted one more goal to get the draw and the ticket to the second round, and while trying hard for the rest of the match the equaliser never came.
