Zambia v Serbia
Zambia (0pens) v Serbia (1pen)
This game was all about the Serbian metronome. The boys from the Balkans play a simple game and they stick to it, mesmerically guiding the ball around their outfield trio following the arc of the opponents penalty area. Zambia were lulled into a stupour at first, left watching the clockwork calcio and seemingly incapable of breaking it down. The Serbs quickly opened up a 3-0 lead, each of their starting team finding the net.
But the metronome is susceptible to attack and when the Zambians finally started to bite into tackles and narrow the passing angles opportunities began to appear. The Africans' No.5 Mushill Mwelwa lashing home just before half time. The Zambian star though was the white-stockinged No.6 Ronald Siame whose effervescence infected the rest of the team. The appreciative crowd then enjoyed an end to end game full of chances as Siame bagged a hat-trick while the Serbs continued to pick off simple team goals.
Siame's scored the last second 5-5 equaliser to send us to penalties, but it was to no avail. The Serbs found their metronome again, saving the first penalty and leaving the talented No.5 to lash home the decisive goal.
Joel Dimmock