Serbia surprise 10-man Germany

Germany 0

Serbia 1
Jovanovic 38

Serbia stunned Germany 1-0 yesterday in a pulsating World Cup tie marked by a cluster of yellow cards, Miroslav Klose's sending-off and Lukas Podolski missing a second-half penalty for Germany.

Milan Jovanovic's first-half goal gave Serbia victory to throw Group D wide open with Radomir Antic's side joining Germany and Ghana - who play pointless Australia today - with three points.

Germany striker Klose picked up the first booking of the game and then his fatal second, from Spanish referee Alberto Undiano, in the 37th minute for a tackle on Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic.

Less than a minute after Klose had left the pitch, Serbia went ahead after a fine three-man move.

Milos Krasic sent a high ball in from the right post for Nikola Zigic, the tallest player at 2m 2cm high in the World Cup, to head down for Jovanovic to flick in past keeper Manuel Neuer.

The Standard Liege midfielder celebrated by jumping into the arms of a small band of ecstatic Serbian supporters in the stands.

A goal and a man down Germany had a mountain to climb to get back into the match but they almost grabbed a first-half stoppage-time equaliser when Sami Khedira's shot hit the crossbar.

Before he was sent packing Klose thought he had come up with his 12th World Cup goal on the half hour but the linesman's flag had already been raised for offside.

Trigger-happpy Undiano dished out two bookings in the space of barely a minute to Serbian duo Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov.

It was two cards apiece on 21 minutes as Khedira caught Undiano's attention for felling Krasic, the latter a menacing threat to Germany down the right wing.

Germany came out for the second half full of intent and Serbia keeper Vladimir Stojkovic was kept busy as the three time champions peppered his goal.

Undiano must have thought it was Christmas as he handed out yet another card to Serbia's Neven Subotic. Then, the game's eighth booking for a handball by Vidic in the box, led to Germany being awarded a penalty on the hour.

Podolski stepped up but his spot-kick into the left hand corner lacked inspiration and Stojkovic comfortably saved.

Jovanovic then hit the woodwork at the other end.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Joachim Loew made a double switch of personnel - Marko Marin and Cacau coming on for Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller.

The Germany manager soon had his arms raised in frustration as Bastian Schweinsteiger got yellow card no.9.

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Joachim Loew reflected: "We had a lot of problems, the double yellow card for Klose, they got the first goal, then we failed to score from the penalty - all in all it was difficult to come to terms with all this.

"We're devastated, of course, but I'm still confident we will go through to the last 16. We still have our fate in our own hands and a good goal difference."

Radomir Antic said the shock win could give Serbia back their belief after an opening loss to Ghana.

"We too can decide our own fate now," the Serbia coach said.

"This is a victory for our people who for sure will know how to celebrate it! Klose's red card was obviously a big handicap for Germany, but we were very positive after falling under a great deal of pressure from the defeat in our opening game."

Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Badstuber (Gomez 77), Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Mueller (Marin 70), Ozil (Cacau 70), Podolski, Klose.

Serbia: Stojkovic, Ivanovic, Subotic, Vidic, Kolarov, Kuzmanovic (Petrovic 75), Stankovic, Krasic, Jovanovic (Lazovic 79), Ninkovic (Kacar 70), Zigic.

Yellow cards: Ivanovic, Kolarov, Subotic, Vidic; Klose, Khedira, Lahm, Schweinsteiger.

Red card: Klose (G) 37.

Missed penalty: Podolski (G) 60.

Referee: Undiano (Spain).

Attendance: 38,294.