Rajkovic equalizes for Serbia to draw 1-1 with Australia

Source: Agencies  |   2008-8-7  |     ONLINE EDITION

SLOBODAN Rajkovic equalized with a header from a corner Thursday for Serbia to draw 1-1 with Australia at the Beijing Olympics.

Ruben Zadkovich gave Australia a 69th-minute lead from David Carney's cross at Shanghai Olympic Stadium, but Rajkovic equalized in the 78th for a deserved draw.

The two other teams in Group A are Argentina and Ivory Coast, which were scheduled to play later at the same venue.

Australia scored when Carney burst through and crossed from the left. Archie Thompson missed the ball, but an unmarked Zadkovich squeezed the ball in from a tight angle at the far post.

Serbia leveled after Aleksandar Zivkovic floated a corner to the near post and Rajkovic met it with a firm header that flew past goalkeeper Adam Federici.

With both teams packing the midfield behind one striker, the few chances came from long range and mostly from Serbia midfielder Zoran Tosic.

After a well-worked corner, he had a shot deflect off an Australian tackler for a corner. Then, Tosic hit a 20-meter shot that flew past the angle of the post and bar. In the 36th minute, he sent a 25-meter drive that shook the crossbar.

Serbia striker Djordje Rakic was treated for six minutes for a cut after challenging for a corner. Blood poured down his face and he played most of the game with his head heavily bandaged.

Australia created little in attack, but center back Matthew Spiranovic showed how to get through the defense in the 38th with a weaving run past three defenders and a powerful right-footed shot that forced goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic into a save.

Tosic went close again as Serbia dominated after halftime, bursting into the area and a sending low shot that just crept past the post. Soon after, Lubomir Fejsa should have put his team ahead after shooting wide of the near post.

Australia then scored against the run of play. The Serbs almost replied immediately, but Federici pushed away a free kick from Aleksandar Kolarov.