NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Tim Cahill and Brett Holman scored second half goals as Australia beat Serbia 2-1 in the teams’ final World Cup Group D match.
Neither team advanced, however, because Germany beat Ghana 1-0. Both of those teams moved into the second round.
Danko Lazovic pulled a goal back for Serbia, but Australia held on despite a late onslaught.
Cahill put the Australians ahead with a glancing header off Luke Wilkshire’s cross in the 69th minute. Substitute Holman got the second from long range 4 minutes later.
Australia needed to win the match to have any chance of reaching the round of 16 and put on a stirring second-half performance. Serbia, knowing it would need a win if Germany beat Ghana, faded in the second half.
