Serbia records first win with 1-0 upset over Germany

Serbia won its first World Cup match as an independent nation on Friday with an upset 1-0 victory over Germany in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

In a game that saw six yellow cards handed out in the first half, Germany was forced to play with 10 men after Miroslav Klose picked up a red card in the 37th minute.

The veteran striker, who scored for Germany in its dominant 4-0 opening win over Australia, was missed on the pitch.

Just one minute after Klose was sent off, Serbia took advantage of the extra man as Milan Jovanovic scored to put his team up 1-0. Milos Krasic started the play, sending the cross to the left of the net, where Nikola Zigic headed the ball to Jovanovic out front.

After gaining control of the ball, the 29-year-old midfielder was able to boot it past German keeper Manuel Neuer for the goal.

It was nearly tied during the first half’s stoppage time but Sami Khedira’s powerful shot ricocheted off the cross bar and Thomas Mueller’s rebound attempt was stopped.

Germany received another golden opportunity to get on the board when Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic handed the ball in the box during the 59th minute.

Lukas Podolski took the subsequent penalty kick and sent it to the bottom right of the net, but goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was there to make the save and keep Serbia ahead in the match.

Serbia, who historically played under the flag of Yugoslavia and competed in the 2006 World Cup as Serbia and Montenegro, now has a solid chance of making it past the group stage. It will take on Australia in its final round-robin match on June 23.

Meanwhile, Germany will have to play its next game without Klose, who will be unavailable due to his red card. It will play Ghana on June 23.

Everything will come down to those two final matches, as currently Germany, Serbia, and Ghana all sit with three points atop Group D.