World Cup
June 18, 2010
Serbia defeated Germany 1-0 in their Group D clash at Port Elizabeth Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay. The lone goal of the match came after German veteran Miroslav Klose was sent from the field after being shown a second yellow.
Serbia’s goal came from a Milos Krasic run down the right flank in the 38th minute, from which he whipped in a dangerous ball to the far post where Nikola Zigic rose to head it into the path of Milan Jovanovic, who side-footed the ball home.
The goal immediately followed the sending off of German striker Miroslav Klose after he was shown a second yellow for fouling Serbian captain Dejan Stankovic. The red card clearly rattled a German team that had been slowly building momentum until that point.
Germany returned to the field in the second half looking determined to draw even despite their numerical disadvantage.
Lukas Podolski came close to snatching a goal for Germany in the 57th minute after he was put through on goal, but he was unable to get a shot off on target.
Germany’s great chance to draw even came two minutes later after they were gifted a penalty by a clumsy handball in the box by Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic, who was shown a yellow card. Podolski stepped up to take the resultant shot on goal, but the effort, low and to the right, was saved by a diving Vladimir Stojkovic.
In an effort to find an equalizer, German coach Joachim Loew brought on three attackers off the bench - Marko Marin, Mario Gomez and Cacau in place of Thomas Mueller, Holger Badstuber and Mesut Oezil.
Serbia, too, made several substitutions and continued peppering the German goal, hitting the post and crossbar on separate occasions.
In the closing minutes of the game, a visibly tired Germany continued their search for an equalizer, but were unable to crack the Serbian defense.
First-half yellows
The first half, devoid of action on goal for the first 35 minutes, saw a handful of yellow cards dished out to players from both teams.
Klose was first cautioned after 12 minutes after he clipped the heals of Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic, while Sami Khedira picked up a yellow 10 minutes later for holding back Milos Krasic on the counterattack.
Krasic was again fouled, this time en route to goal, by German captain Philipp Lahm, who was given his team's third yellow card.
Serbian pair Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksander Kolarov were given yellows for fouls against Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller respectively.
The second half saw yellows to Subotic in the 57th minute, and German vice captain Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 73rd minute.
The loss now leaves Germany with three points from two games, equal with Ghana and Serbia, though ahead on goal difference.
Author: Darren Mara
Editor: Martin Kuebler