End to end action, brilliant play, but no finishing 1st half. End to end action, brilliant play, an eff-ing remarkable 2nd half.
First the Sockeroos slotted home 2 goals in 3 minutes. Serbia looked done for, then they pulled a goal back. The last 5+ minutes of the game were a genuine thrill ride. They spread the play, opened up the game and upped the pace. Desperate hope and fierce desire spurred both teams to supreme efforts and superb performances. It was chance after chance, breath-taking near misses, furious pace, brilliant saves both ends of the pitch…
Edge of the seat stuff, this. Ah, but the upstart Serbs who defeated the Germans went down to the Aussies and to the bottom of the table. The never-say-die Aussies won the match 2-1, but their 4-point grand total wasn’t enough to earn them in a spot in the Sweet 16.
There was no joy in Nelspruit. Australia and Serbia had struck true — but struck out.