Australia and Serbia fought out a pulsating scoreless draw in Melbourne yesterday in their first meeting since last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Skillful Serbia, without many of their leading stars, had some great scoring chances, but Australia, also without their big guns, gave as good as they got in the end-to-end contest.
Australia ended Serbia’s quest for the last 16 at last year’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory in Nelspruit. On that occasion, the Socceroos hit back magnificently in the second half, rocking the Europeans with two goals in four minutes.
Photo: EPA
This was another breathless encounter between the 16th-ranked Europeans and the Socceroos, four rungs below them.
Adem Ljajic was narrowly wide with a free-kick in the 10th minute and midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic blazed just wide with Australia’s Adam Federici beaten.
Australian midfielder Mile Jedinak forced goalkeeper Damir Kahriman into a scrambling save off a free-kick and he again went close minutes later when his shot was blocked by defender Slobodan Rajkovic, but the best chance of the opening 45 minutes was wasted by Ljajic as he blazed over the bar when it was easier to score five minutes before halftime.
Brett Holman brought out a diving save from Kahriman in the final minute of the half.
Federici pulled off two great saves minutes after the resumption, saving at the feet of Zoran Tosic and a pulling off a flying stop to deny Ljajic.
Holman let fly with two fierce volleys, with the second effort just whizzing past Kahirman’s left post midway through the half.
Substitute James Troisi had the home side’s best chance 11 minutes from time, but his shot was blocked by Kahriman.
Serbia substitute Ranko Despotovic headed just wide in the final minutes off a Tosic free-kick.
Other international results:
‧ Japan 0, Czech Republic 0
‧ South Korea 2, Ghana 1
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