2010 World Cup: Australia v Serbia half time report
Australia 0 Serbia 0
Australia and Serbia are goalless at half time at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Serbia have been the attacking threat in the whole first half, with Australia barely offering anything.
Miloš Krasić showed why Premier League clubs are after his signature, as in the fifth minute a great run was accompanied with nice skills forcing a save from Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer.
On 12 minutes Serbia broke quickly from Australia’s corner. Nikola Zigić played in Krasić after his pass split the Australian defence, but when Krasić went around Schwarzer he diverted his shot horribly wide of the target for Serbia’s best chance.
Australia, having had a player sent off in each of their two games, were very cautious, leaving Joshua Kennedy up front on his own in a 4-4-1-1 system, with Tim Cahill trying to support him.
Serbia were the more potent force, with winger Milan Jovanović having most of the ball when they attacked.
Branislav Ivanović of all people could have broken the deadlock. You expect a centre-back to score from a corner, but he was beautifully picked out when he was somehow in a striker’s position. He controlled the ball brilliantly on his chest and struck the shot on the volley, only to see his shot saved by Schwarzer.
Australia’s first real chance came courtesy of Cahill. A cross from the left from Mark Bresciano saw Cahill win a header in typical fashion, but the Everton man couldn’t hit the target.
Zigic headed wide on 34 minutes when he got onto the end of Serbia captain Dejan Stanković’s cross.
Serbia have looked more likely to break through, and as the group stands they will need to find a goal otherwise they are heading out of the World Cup.
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