Australia's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer cries at the end of a 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match against Serbia at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit June 23, 2010. [Agencies]
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Australia's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer cries at the end of a 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match against Serbia at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit June 23, 2010. [Agencies] |
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Australia's Tim Cahill celebrates after the team's victory over Serbia in a 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit June 23, 2010. [Agencies] |
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Serbia's coach Radomir Antic (C) kneels with players from Serbia's national soccer team after Marko Pantelic scored a goal during a 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match against Australia at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit June 23, 2010. [Agencies] |
A win will send Serbia, who have three points in pocket before the match, to the round of 16. While Australia only put in one point on the billboard after the first two group matches.
The victory was not enough to book the Socceroos a place in the round of 16 as the result saw Australia finish Group D third behind Ghana on goal difference, who lost to Germany 1-0 in the other match. Germany topped the group with six points.
Serbia put on a brighter performance in the first half with a 56 percent of ball possession as well as eight shots and five on target to Australia's five and four.
In the stoppage time, Serbia should have been given a penalty as Cahill handled the ball in the penalty area.
Australia then pulled off their second World Cup win, following their 3-1 victory over Japan in 2006.