White Eagles crash
Serbia’s World Cup hopes and dreams came to an unexpected end in Nelspruit against Australia.
After a controlled yet for too long, barren performance Serbia were unable to find the goal required that would have given them a 2-2 draw and passage into the second round.
The mission started very clearly for the White Eagles, win and qualification was assured.
The first half was one of missed opportunities for the Serbs.
After 11 minutes Ninkovic broke through the middle of the park at pace to play a clever ball beyond the Aussie defence for the onrushing Krasic. It was similar to the way in which Germany had been able to breach this Australian defence in the first group game, except Krasic’s touch was heavy as he rounded Schwarzer and instead of rolling the ball into the empty net it blazed high and wide of the goal mouth.
Again the next chance was created by the energetic Serbs, this time a smart interchange between Krasic and Kuzmanovic on the right touch line led to a dinked cross that found Branislav Ivanovic, who had surged forward un-opposed to control the ball on his chest and thump a half volley that was repelled by the right arm of Schwarzer.
The team in red kept control of the ball and the chances kept arising in the opening period but they could not be put away. Next up was Zigic unable to direct a header towards the goal.
This was followed by Jovanovic moving inside from the left to slide a ball past the Australian defence which was met by Krasic to knock into the goal, only to see the assistant referee to flag for an offside.
Half time dually was upon us and the Serbian side retreated to their dressing room with the match under control but they were aware that they had spurned many chances to secure their progress.
On 52 minutes Zigic was to have his final opportunity in the game. Jovanovic again looking dangerous on the left dragged the ball back for Zigic, who controlled with his chest only to send the ball on the half volley off target.
On the hour mark the news came through of a German goal against Ghana in the other group match. The Aussies quickly made 2 substitutions as did Serbia, who replaced Krasic and Zigic with Tosic and Pantelic.
The changes worked out better for Australia who after 4 minutes of madness found themselves 2-0 ahead after a header from Tim Cahill was followed by a drive from distance by Brett Holman. It was a situation that had been impossible to imagine at half time after the Serbian domination but their failure to convert any of the chances created had come back to haunt them.
Danko Lazovic was the final roll of the dice, coming on after 76 minutes for Kuzmanovic and it was clear that Radomir Antic and his side were going to throw everything they had at this Australian defence.
Eventually they got a break through, Tosic cut inside from his marker to zing a shot that Schwarzer found too hot to handle and the ball spilled out to the 6 yard line where Pantelic was waiting to slot the ball home, to bring the score line to 2-1 with 6 minutes to play.
2 minutes later it looked like salvation was found for the Serbs. Lazovic played a cross field pass beyond the defence to Pantelic who controlled with his first touch and slotted the ball into the bottom corner with his second. As the Serbian fans celebrated once again on the touchline the assistant referee had his flag raised and the goal was not to count.
The White Eagles were to suffer further in the final minute of the match. After conceding 2 penalties in the group due to handballs in the box, corner was struck into the heart of the box by Jovanovic to bet met by the head of Vidic only for the ball to strike the up stretched arm of Tim Cahill.
As the referee was surrounded by claims for the penalty to be awarded, he simply signalled for a corner. The flight of the ball had been clearly blocked by the arm but was judged to have been accidental and Serbian anger was obvious.
The final opportunity again fell to Pantelic but he was too eager with his run, finding himself in an offside position, but his strike was wayward and the ball sailed high and wide of the far post.
The final whistle followed soon after and the Serbian player’s ambitions ended for this competition.
After a controlled yet for too long, barren performance Serbia were unable to find the goal required that would have given them a 2-2 draw and passage into the second round.
The mission started very clearly for the White Eagles, win and qualification was assured.
The first half was one of missed opportunities for the Serbs.
After 11 minutes Ninkovic broke through the middle of the park at pace to play a clever ball beyond the Aussie defence for the onrushing Krasic. It was similar to the way in which Germany had been able to breach this Australian defence in the first group game, except Krasic’s touch was heavy as he rounded Schwarzer and instead of rolling the ball into the empty net it blazed high and wide of the goal mouth.
Again the next chance was created by the energetic Serbs, this time a smart interchange between Krasic and Kuzmanovic on the right touch line led to a dinked cross that found Branislav Ivanovic, who had surged forward un-opposed to control the ball on his chest and thump a half volley that was repelled by the right arm of Schwarzer.
The team in red kept control of the ball and the chances kept arising in the opening period but they could not be put away. Next up was Zigic unable to direct a header towards the goal.
This was followed by Jovanovic moving inside from the left to slide a ball past the Australian defence which was met by Krasic to knock into the goal, only to see the assistant referee to flag for an offside.
Half time dually was upon us and the Serbian side retreated to their dressing room with the match under control but they were aware that they had spurned many chances to secure their progress.
On 52 minutes Zigic was to have his final opportunity in the game. Jovanovic again looking dangerous on the left dragged the ball back for Zigic, who controlled with his chest only to send the ball on the half volley off target.
On the hour mark the news came through of a German goal against Ghana in the other group match. The Aussies quickly made 2 substitutions as did Serbia, who replaced Krasic and Zigic with Tosic and Pantelic.
The changes worked out better for Australia who after 4 minutes of madness found themselves 2-0 ahead after a header from Tim Cahill was followed by a drive from distance by Brett Holman. It was a situation that had been impossible to imagine at half time after the Serbian domination but their failure to convert any of the chances created had come back to haunt them.
Danko Lazovic was the final roll of the dice, coming on after 76 minutes for Kuzmanovic and it was clear that Radomir Antic and his side were going to throw everything they had at this Australian defence.
Eventually they got a break through, Tosic cut inside from his marker to zing a shot that Schwarzer found too hot to handle and the ball spilled out to the 6 yard line where Pantelic was waiting to slot the ball home, to bring the score line to 2-1 with 6 minutes to play.
2 minutes later it looked like salvation was found for the Serbs. Lazovic played a cross field pass beyond the defence to Pantelic who controlled with his first touch and slotted the ball into the bottom corner with his second. As the Serbian fans celebrated once again on the touchline the assistant referee had his flag raised and the goal was not to count.
The White Eagles were to suffer further in the final minute of the match. After conceding 2 penalties in the group due to handballs in the box, corner was struck into the heart of the box by Jovanovic to bet met by the head of Vidic only for the ball to strike the up stretched arm of Tim Cahill.
As the referee was surrounded by claims for the penalty to be awarded, he simply signalled for a corner. The flight of the ball had been clearly blocked by the arm but was judged to have been accidental and Serbian anger was obvious.
The final opportunity again fell to Pantelic but he was too eager with his run, finding himself in an offside position, but his strike was wayward and the ball sailed high and wide of the far post.
The final whistle followed soon after and the Serbian player’s ambitions ended for this competition.
