Football: Serbia earns support of its Dunedin fans

Mexico goalie Jose Gonzalez dives but cannot save a goal against Serbia.
Mexico goalie Jose Gonzalez dives but cannot save a goal against Serbia.
University of Otago students (from left) Emilio McFadzean, Campbell Shephard, Sophie Aitken,...
University of Otago students (from left) Emilio McFadzean, Campbell Shephard, Sophie Aitken, Reuben Cane, Amy McKeefry and Maria Simpson support Mexico during its Fifa Under 20 World Cup match against Serbia at Otago Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday....

Is it possible the two best teams in this tournament appeared in Dunedin on Saturday?

There will certainly be no raised eyebrows in the South if Portugal and Serbia go far at the Fifa Under 20 World Cup, based on the weekend's evidence.

After Portugal showed off its full range of tricks in the early game, Serbia came out and blew pre tournament favourite Mexico off the park.

The Serbians have turned into Dunedin's darlings and will have massive ''home'' support when they play at Otago Stadium for a fourth time on Wednesday, against Hungary.

They play with equal amounts of power and skill, and they favour a direct approach that can be unnerving for opponents wanting more time on the ball.

Sergej Milinkovic is a bullocking centre forward, complemented by the jinking and jiving of Andrija Zivkovic and Mijat Gacinovic.

The defence is led by the rugged Nemanja Antonov, in front of what every good side needs _ a brilliant goalkeeper.

Captain Predrag Rajkovic patrols his area with steely determination, and he made some spectacular saves, including one with his foot, on Saturday.

In a repeat of the earlier game at the stadium, there was a very early goal to get the crowd into a good mood.

A long Serbia throw in found Milinkovic, who nodded a header on for Nemanja Maksimovic, who directed his header into goal.

That stunned the Mexicans, who were carrying some serious momentum into the game after a final quarter blitz against Uruguay on Wednesday.

Mexico actually shaded much of the rest of the first half, controlling possession and probing away at the Serbian defence.

But moments win matches, and Serbia produced another key one just a couple of minutes before the break.

Otago Stadium emphasised its reputation as a free kick paradise when Zivkovic curled one into the top left corner from 25m.

The second half was a relatively mundane affair, highlighted by Rajkovic's goal mouth heroics and some near misses from a very frustrated Mexican team.

The crowd certainly enjoyed it - and local organisers would have been delighted to see nearly 10,000 in the stands.

• Uruguay and Mali battled to a 1 1 draw in the other Group D game, in Hamilton.

It left the teams with an identical points (four) and goal difference (zero). Fifa had to conduct a draw to see which team qualified second, behind Serbia, and Uruguay's name was pulled out.


Serbia v Mexico
The scores

Serbia 2
Nemanja Maksimovic 2, Andrija Zivkovic 43

Mexico 0

Halftime: Serbia 2-0.

Crowd: 9248.

In summary
Serbia qualified top of Group D with a comprehensive win over Mexico, which went from group favourite to also ran very quickly.

Star player
You just can't miss Sergej Milinkovic. The big, slightly awkward Serbian forward was involved in everything and used his size to good effect.

Other games

Saturday

In Hamilton: Mali 1 (Adama Traore 44), Uruguay 1 (Franco Acosta 17). Halftime: 1 1.

In Hamilton: Senegal 2 (Alhassane Sylla 76, Moussa Kone 81), Qatar 1 (Akram Afif 17 pen). Halftime: Qatar 1 0.

Yesterday

In Christchurch: Germany 5 (Marc Stendera pen 2, Julian Brandt 30, Hany Mukhtar 50, Grischa Proemel 62, Niklas Stark 81), Honduras 1 (Marvin Schwaebe own goal 19). Halftime 2-1.

In Whangarei: Uzbekistan 3 (Eldor Shomurodov 62, Zabikhillo Urinboev 63, Mirjamol Kosimov 90+3), Fiji 0. Halftime 0-0.

In New Plymouth: Nigeria 2 (Taiwo Awoniyi 33, 54), Hungary 0. Halftime 1 0.

In Christchurch: Brazil 3 (Min Hyo Song own goal 60, Jean Carlos 66, Leo Pereira 86), North Korea 0. Halftime 0-0.


 

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