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Tuesday June 16, 2009 Finished

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Italy U21

Serbia U21

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  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Italy U21
    • Serbia U21
    • 90'+3 That's it, all over - and a fair result on the balance of play. Both sides had chances to win the match, but ultimately it was the Serbs who came closest with that stunning Kacar bicycle kick. Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time.
    • 90'+2 Well cleared by De Ceglie, fired back in by Tosic but this time the Italian keeper takes the ball safely.
    • 90'+1 Free kick for Serbia from the right... Tosic will take.
    • 90' Three extra minutes to play...
    • 89' Pisano is booked for a double-handed push on Tomic.
    • 88' Nice run up the left by Paolo De Ceglie; the midfielder wins a corner, but it's taken with confident assurance by Brkic.
    • 87' The Serbs break upfield again, but it'll take a mistake or a piece of brilliance to end this stalemate at this point.
    • 86' The Italians try a few languid efforts at coming forward again, but now it's the Serbs' turn to put men behind the ball - nine of them, since you ask - as they look to secure what will probably be a very decent point.
    • 85' The excellent Matic is applauded off the pitch after picking up a slight knock to one of his feet. Tomic replaces.
    • 83' We seem to be heading for a nil-nil now, but this Serbian renaissance in the second half - and in the last 15 minutes particularly - has been spectacularly impressive. They've got enormous talent here.
    • 82' Who will take it? It's Tosic - and GREAT STRIKE! But the ball is 18 inches high and wide of the top left corner.
    • 81' Free kick for Serbia now as Bocchetti bodyslams the rampaging Kacar...
    • 79' The Serbs try to hit on the break, but the Italians are spooked and have got seven men behind the ball now. They can afford to draw this one - but not lose it. And they know it.
    • 78' Motta comes off, Pisano comes on for Italy.
    • 77' As the players catch their breaths it's still Serbia who are doing the pushing. Matic makes a gorgeous run, breaking two tackles before having a long shot that's well wide.
    • 75' The Serbs in the crowd are going bonkers now.... can they really pull of a shock?
    • 74' How on earth did the Serbs not score there? The Italian defence, so solid all night, was cut right open... Incredible!
    • 73' The ball comes in - and IT'S A GREAT CHANCE FOR SERBIA, AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER!!!! First is a header from Matic that draws a great save from Consigli, then Tosic's shot is deflected away, and finally Gojko Kacar's utterly outstanding bicycle kick SMASHES AGAINST THE FAR POST!!!!
    • 72' Motta puts in a fantastic tackle on rampaging Serb Nemanja Matic... But corner! And it's dangerous!
    • 70' Good football from the Serbs there as they ping the ball around brilliantly to open up the defence... only the final ball is just a yard out of place, and Tosic is closed down without getting a shot away from the edge of the box.
    • 69' Giovinco is penalised for a two-footed tackle on the edge of the Serbian box - a harsh decision as he clearly got some of the ball there.
    • 68' Piercing long ball up through the centre is on course for Acquafresca, but the striker just isn't quick enough to outwit the quickly-learning Serb defence.
    • 66' Iganzio Abate comes on for Balotelli, probably as much to save the striker's temper from earning him a red card as anything.
    • 65' Those two or three chances seem to have got the Italians back on track as they start trying to score goals rather than prompt bookings. They're holding the ball better once more.
    • 63' GREAT CHANCE MISSED BY GIOVINCO!! The diminutive playmaker makes a wonderfully-timed run to beat the offside trap, but controls the ball poorly and has too much to do, and too little time to do it in, to beat the charging Brkic. He ends up toe-poking the ball on target from the edge of the box, but it's well-taken by the keeper.
    • 61' Giovinco puts in a clever diagonal ball for Balotelli to run on to from the left, and he makes clean contact - but the ball skips wide of the far post.
    • 60' The Serbs try to move upfield now, but the blue shirts close ranks time and again.
    • 58' Giovinco takes a break from his efforts to get the whole of the Serbian side sent off to fire in a nice free kick - and Acquafresca gets a lovely header on to it!!! BUT SUPERB SAVE FROM BRKIC! The Serbian keeper is on red-hot form.
    • 57' Giovinco's nonsensical diving earns no sympathy from the referee, so the Italian playmaker runs off to the side of the pitch to remonstrate with the fourth official - pointing at his utterly unmarked face as he does so.
    • 56' Giovinco and Balotelli have clearly been comparing notes at half-time because now the former gets in on the diving act as a slight brush of a hand onto his shoulder sees him thrust himself to the floor clutching his nose as if a sparrowhawk had just swooped down and tried to talon it clean off his face.
    • 55' Best move of the match for the Serbs, but Smiljanic runs out of space and it comes to naught. That's a shame.
    • 53' Petkovic takes the referee's leniency a little too far with a big sliding challenge on Giovinco, and he goes into the book.
    • 52' Serbia hang on to the ball at the back now, waiting patiently for the gap - and perhaps hoping to draw the Italians out to open things up a bit.
    • 50' Some big tackles going in from the Serbs now, but Porutguese referee Pedro Proenca has been so unimpressed with the Italians' ability to stay on their feet that he is letting them go.
    • 48' ...the kick is straight into the wall. Still, a better start to the half for the Serbs.
    • 47' Tosic is brought down needlessly by Claudio Marchisio in the centre of the pitch - there was no danger and plenty of cover, that was foolish. He goes in the book, and Tosic will have a go at the free kick...
    • 46' We're back in play here in Helsingborg; let's see if one of these sides can break the deadlock. On the evidence of the first half it'll be Italy who'll do so.
    • 45'+1 There goes the whistle for the end of the first half, and it's been entertaining stuff. Italy will be kicking themselves not to turned dominance of both possession and chances into a lead. But it's also hard to see where the Serbs will break down their opponents' solid defence.
    • 45' Balotelli adds a bit of slightly filthy gamesmanship to his performance as an inadvertent brush on the cheek from a defender's hand sends him sprawling to the turf in such a manner as to suggest that he'd been scythed with an electrified chainsaw. Pathetic, and the referee, rightly, is having absolutely none of it. Balotelli indeed is lucky to stay on the pitch since he could well have had a second yellow for his dive.
    • 44' The Serbs come back upfield for the first time in what feels like about six weeks, but the Italians stamp it out ruthlessly.
    • 42' Nice through ball frmo Giovinco - who is looking better and better as the night goes on - but Aquafresh can't quite get on the end of it. Looked like he might have been offside anyway.
    • 41' The game slows back down after that flurry of impressive attacking activity from the Italians.
    • 40' Italy come again, and Balotelli sweeps in from the right to earn a one-on-one with Brkic - and it's another cracking save from the Serb keeper!!!
    • 39' The ball come to Giovinco... NICE SHOT!!! But great save from the Serb keeper, but his clearance opens up for Bocchetti, who shoots just wide!
    • 38' Italy push up, and the Serbs concede a corner... Balotelli will take from the right corner...
    • 36' The game slows down once more... will we see much more movement in this half?
    • 34' Balotelli's frustration at being stifled comes out, and he throws the ball away petulantly as the opposition win a throw - and earns himself a spot in the referee's little black book.
    • 33' Balotelli's ridiculously optimistic long-range effort skips weakly wide of the goal, and though Serb gloveman Brkic dives for show there was never any problem there.
    • 32' Balotelli lines up a free kick from 35m... madness, surely...?
    • 31' Zoran Tosic makes a run to try and get on the end of an increasingly rare Serb incursion into the 18-yard box, but it's more to give himself something to do than to try to get on to a ball that was always flying miles out.
    • 29' The huge crowd noise has died down to a few shouts here and there as the game's place slows.
    • 28' It's a shame that the obvious stars are being more or less marked out of this game - but you can understand it. The world might see this tournament as a shop window for the stars of tomorrow, but coaches and players alike would rather come home with a trophy than invite spectacular, open football.
    • 26' The Serbs have three men marking Balotelli most of the time - and though he gets past the first two of them there, the third charges in and disposses him.
    • 25' The Italians are looking assured and purposeful now, trying to make things happen rather than sitting back as they were 10 minutes ago. Shot count is 5-2 in favour of the Italians.
    • 23' Balotelli wins the ball back from the throw and delivers the ball to Marco Motta, whose perfectly-struck long-range effort whistles just past the top corner.
    • 22' A bit of showing off by Balotelli down in the corner looks swift but achieves little.
    • 20' Balotelli crosses the ball in from the right and it finds Acquafresca sprinting in, but Signor Toothpaste can do no better than a mere glance of a header that flies away for a throw.
    • 19' Tosic is doing manful work for the Serbs trying to make something happen up the right, controlling and dribbling brilliantly - but the Italians have clearly earmarked him as a danger man.
    • 17' The Serbs are going backwards now, as the Italian side find their feet and look more and more comfortable.
    • 15' Italy push up once more and win a free kick on the left flank; it's Giovinco who crosses, but it's overambitious and the ball is headed harmlessly clear.
    • 14' From the corner Domenico Criscito has a waft at the ball but nothing doing.
    • 13' Giovinco picks up the ball 30 yards out - AND IT'S A CRACKING EFFORT, JUST TIPPED OVER THE BAR!!!
    • 12' The Italians hit on the break, and now there's a bit of space opening up for them...
    • 10' Serbia keep pushing, but the Italians just hold them at arm's length.
    • 8' The pace of the match is picking up a little now, with the Serbs pushing hard - but the Italian defence is as tight as a medieval thumbscrew, as you'd expect...
    • 7' Corner for the Italians curled in by Balotelli, cleared by the defence for another one but that is then boomed off the pitch artlessly by Giovinco.
    • 5' A first half-chance for Serbia as they make an opening through the center, but Vukovic slips over before he can get to the ball.
    • 3' It might be an under-21 tournament, but there are some big names on the pitch with many eyes being on Inter's Mario Balotelli.
    • 2' Bright start from both teams and the crowd are getting into it hugely already.
    • 1' That's kick-off for what should be a cracking match here tonight.

  • Summary

    • 81' Free kick for Serbia now as Bocchetti bodyslams the rampaging Kacar...
    • 73' The ball comes in - and IT'S A GREAT CHANCE FOR SERBIA, AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER!!!! First is a header from Matic that draws a great save from Consigli, then Tosic's shot is deflected away, and finally Gojko Kacar's utterly outstanding bicycle kick SMASHES AGAINST THE FAR POST!!!!
    • 72' Motta puts in a fantastic tackle on rampaging Serb Nemanja Matic... But corner! And it's dangerous!
    • 70' Good football from the Serbs there as they ping the ball around brilliantly to open up the defence... only the final ball is just a yard out of place, and Tosic is closed down without getting a shot away from the edge of the box.
    • 63' GREAT CHANCE MISSED BY GIOVINCO!! The diminutive playmaker makes a wonderfully-timed run to beat the offside trap, but controls the ball poorly and has too much to do, and too little time to do it in, to beat the charging Brkic. He ends up toe-poking the ball on target from the edge of the box, but it's well-taken by the keeper.
    • 61' Giovinco puts in a clever diagonal ball for Balotelli to run on to from the left, and he makes clean contact - but the ball skips wide of the far post.
    • 58' Giovinco takes a break from his efforts to get the whole of the Serbian side sent off to fire in a nice free kick - and Acquafresca gets a lovely header on to it!!! BUT SUPERB SAVE FROM BRKIC! The Serbian keeper is on red-hot form.
    • 57' Giovinco's nonsensical diving earns no sympathy from the referee, so the Italian playmaker runs off to the side of the pitch to remonstrate with the fourth official - pointing at his utterly unmarked face as he does so.
    • 55' Best move of the match for the Serbs, but Smiljanic runs out of space and it comes to naught. That's a shame.
    • 45' Balotelli adds a bit of slightly filthy gamesmanship to his performance as an inadvertent brush on the cheek from a defender's hand sends him sprawling to the turf in such a manner as to suggest that he'd been scythed with an electrified chainsaw. Pathetic, and the referee, rightly, is having absolutely none of it. Balotelli indeed is lucky to stay on the pitch since he could well have had a second yellow for his dive.
    • 42' Nice through ball frmo Giovinco - who is looking better and better as the night goes on - but Aquafresh can't quite get on the end of it. Looked like he might have been offside anyway.
    • 40' Italy come again, and Balotelli sweeps in from the right to earn a one-on-one with Brkic - and it's another cracking save from the Serb keeper!!!
    • 39' The ball come to Giovinco... NICE SHOT!!! But great save from the Serb keeper, but his clearance opens up for Bocchetti, who shoots just wide!
    • 33' Balotelli's ridiculously optimistic long-range effort skips weakly wide of the goal, and though Serb gloveman Brkic dives for show there was never any problem there.
    • 23' Balotelli wins the ball back from the throw and delivers the ball to Marco Motta, whose perfectly-struck long-range effort whistles just past the top corner.
    • 13' Giovinco picks up the ball 30 yards out - AND IT'S A CRACKING EFFORT, JUST TIPPED OVER THE BAR!!!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Pedro Proenca

  • Italy U21

    Manager: Pierluigi Casiraghi

    Starting line-up

    • A. Consigli
    • M. Motta Substitution Out (76′)
    • M. Andreolli
    • S. Bocchetti
    • D. Criscito
    • L. Cigarini
    • C. Marchisio Yellow Card
    • P. De Ceglie
    • S. Giovinco
    • R. Acquafresca
    • M. Balotelli Yellow Card Substitution Out (67′)

    Subs

    • 14. F. Pisano Substitution In76′ Yellow Card
    • 7. I. Abate Substitution In67′
    • 18. A. Cerci
    • 5. P. Morosini
    • 23. D. Dessena
    • 6. L. Marzoratti
    • 12. S. Sirigu
    • 13. A. Ranocchia
    • 17. A. Poli
    • 16. A. Candreva
    • 22. A. Seculin
    • 19. A. Paloschi

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Serbia U21

    Manager: Slobodan Krcmarevic

    Starting line-up

    • Z. Brkic
    • G. Kacar
    • N. Pejcinoviv
    • N. Tomovic
    • N. Petkovic Yellow Card
    • L. Fejsa
    • M. Smiljanic
    • N. Matic Substitution Out (85′)
    • Z. Tosic
    • M. Sulejmani
    • J. Vukovic

    Subs

    • 9. .. Perovic
    • 12. B. Saranov
    • 20. D. Tadic
    • 21. M. Vilotic
    • 2. M. Jovanovic
    • 6. N. Gulan
    • 23. Z. Zivkovic
    • 18. M. Milinkovic
    • 19. R. Brezancic
    • 22. N. Tomic Substitution In85′
    • 8. R. Veljovic

    Injured

    • 13. I. Obradović

    Suspended

    None

Comment 13 - 32 of 32

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. WHOS THAT FEJSA GUY ON SERB TEAM ?

    From Zvani Z, on Wed 17 Jun 10:15AM

  2. MAN OF THE MATCH TOSIC WHO DOES HE PLAY FOR GOT A GREAT­ FUTURE WITH THE RIGHT TEAM

    From joy s, on Tue 16 Jun 10:50PM

  3. MAN OF THE MATCH TOSIC WHO DOES HE PLAY FOR GOT A GREAT­ FUTURE WITH THE RIGHT TEAM

    From joy s, on Tue 16 Jun 10:46PM

  4. Macheda is an American

    From hejon1, on Tue 16 Jun 9:28PM

  5. go italy you rock

    From Sanchit, on Tue 16 Jun 9:27PM

  6. hejde srbija!

    From wesjdj, on Tue 16 Jun 9:23PM

  7. where is macheda?

    From Louise, on Tue 16 Jun 9:14PM

  8. Balotelli is black!

    From hejon1, on Tue 16 Jun 9:12PM

  9. 22# dont you mean serbian or italian not french

    From chelsealad92, on Tue 16 Jun 8:48PM

  10. Serbia is winning this there is no way Italy will break­ their defence. Serbia only needs one good header and­ it's over .

    From Filip, on Tue 16 Jun 8:39PM

  11. GO SERBIA.......

    From Desanka, on Tue 16 Jun 8:36PM

  12. of course they arent it is under 21s and they are­ spanish and portugeuse not serbian of french

    From joshua_wood, on Tue 16 Jun 8:34PM

  13. @ madhattersteve, you really are mad if you think the­ score will be 5-3 for Italy hahaha pls don't make­ me laugh and especially not now because it's 0-0­ and it's half time :)

    From SasaS, on Tue 16 Jun 8:33PM

  14. Too bad Obradovic isn't playing :( he could have­ been a great partner with Sulejmani but Serbia is going­ to win cmon Serbia WIN it crush them

    From SasaS, on Tue 16 Jun 8:31PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    is torres and ronaldo playing

    From D T, on Tue 16 Jun 8:25PM

  16. Italy 1-0 Serbia
    Im not a fan of any of these teams.

    From krister s, on Tue 16 Jun 8:10PM

  17. @nBz yes but so do the Serbs they have great youngsters­ :) ;) and a great future :)

    From SasaS, on Tue 16 Jun 8:05PM

  18. GOOO­ SERBIA!!!!!!!!!!!!Win,Win,Win,Win,Win,Win,Win,Win,Win,W­ in,Win,Win,Win,Win,Win...

    From ak3_aka_aking, on Tue 16 Jun 8:04PM

  19. Come on SERBIA crush them Sulejmani and Kacar will­ destroy Italy final score 2-1 for SERBIA scorers­ Sulejmani and Kacar and for Italy Acquafresca :)

    From SasaS, on Tue 16 Jun 8:04PM

  20. can u see what great future italy have... look at this­ team!

    From nBz., on Tue 16 Jun 7:53PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

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