Full-time - 90'
Australia
2 - 1
Serbia

Group D, 18:30 GMT, June 23, 2010

Mbombela Stadium

Australia beat Serbia 2-1 to seal both teams' exit from the World Cup. The Socceroos looked like they might cause an upset after going ahead, but Serbia's Marko Pantelic hit back to see them miss out by a single goal.


MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: - In a hard fought match, super-sub Brett Holman changed the course of a game that Serbia were in control of. Tim Cahill scored just two minutes after the AZ Alkmaar midfielder's introduction and Holman then scored himself with a 30-yard wonder goal to give Australia a 2-0 lead.

Australia verdict: Struggled to get into the match as they opted for the direct route in the first-half. After the break the Socceroos played more of a passing game, keeping the ball on the floor, and it suited them better.

Serbia verdict: The Serbs were dominant in possession in the first-half and looked comfortable. But the White Eagles made a slow start after the break and lost their way. Zoran Tosic's introduction as sub in the 62nd minute got them back on course, but it was too little, too late.

Could do better: Nikola Zigic The 6' 7" striker missed a header from point-blank range when unmarked in the first-half. He didn't improve after the break and was hauled off after 69 minutes, to be replaced by Marko Pantelic.

Stat attack: This was the Socceroos' first win in six games at the World Cup finals (two draws and three defeats).

Ultimately Serbia paid for their earlier profligacy as second-half goals from Tim Cahill and Brett Holman sent them crashing out.

Australia's effort dragged them off the bottom of the group but it was too little too late as Ghana edged them out of the second round on goal difference. It was a face-saving win for Australia that seemed barely likely in the first half as they struggled to cope with Serbia's pace and technical excellence.

Serbia had the first opportunity when Milos Krasic, booed by Australia's sizeable following after a tumble in the box moments earlier, burst into the box and fired at Mark Schwarzer from a tight angle.

Krasic had another chance after 11 minutes as Serbia broke quickly following an Australia corner. Milos Ninkovic played him through with a superb pass but the CSKA Moscow star shot high and wide after rounding the advancing Schwarzer.

Serbia maintained the pressure and went close again when Zdravko Kuzmanovic shot across the face of goal.

Australia were struggling to handle the speed of the Serbian attacks and were grateful when Schwarzer stuck out an arm to deny Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic from inside the six-yard box. They were limited to firing in crosses from deep but it was 32 minutes before Serbia failed to deal with one and Cahill headed his side's first good chance wide.

Australia were almost caught out by another slick Serbia move before the break but Krasic was marginally offside before flicking the ball past Schwarzer.

The Socceroos began the second period with more purpose and won a free-kick after Cahill tangled with Nemanja Vidic. Marco Bresciano drilled the set-piece in low but Nikola Zigic was back to clear.

Cahill also sliced a shot wide from a Josh Kennedy flick-on but the Socceroos remained vulnerable on the counter-attack. Milan Jovanovic broke clear on the left and Zigic controlled his cross brilliantly only to shoot over.

Australia, again showing more intent, went close as Jason Culina drilled a low shot wide.

Bresciano then forced Vladimir Stojkovic to make his first serious save from a low free-kick after Ninkovic was booked for a late tackle on Luke Wilkshire.

Kuzmanovic headed a good chance wide for Serbia but the eastern Europeans were starting to look concerned.

They paid the price for their earlier profligacy as Wilkshire picked out Cahill with a superb cross in the 69th minute and the Everton star headed powerfully home in familiar fashion.

Serbia were rattled and Australia began to sense an unlikely opportunity as substitute Holman broke forward four minutes later and unleashed a ferocious shot that flew past Stojkovic from 30 yards.

Serbia grabbed a lifeline six minutes from time as Schwarzer spilled a long-range Zoran Tosic shot and fellow substitute Pantelic pounced from close range.

That allowed them to regain their composure and they created one last gilt-edged chance but Pantelic was unable to stay onside and missed the target anyway.