A gritty defensive performance from Newcastle Jets captain Jade North helped the Olyroos hold on for a 1-1 draw in their opening Olympic fixture against Serbia last night.

Serbia dominated the match but was forced to shoot from outside the 18-yard box for most of the night thanks to the central defensive pairing of North and 20-year-old Matthew Spiranovic.

Australia struggled to keep possession last night but still managed to score the opening goal in the 69th minute when David Carney broke down the left flank and sent a dangerous ball across the face of the Serbian goal for Ruben Zadkovich to knock in at the far post.

The goal was one of the few Olyroos’ chances in a match in which Serbia dominated possession and had the lions-share of attacking chances. Serbian midfielder Zoran Tosic was particularly threatening, unleashing a barrage of long range shots that were only kept out by the brilliance of Olyroos goalkeeper Adam Federici.

Serbia’s sole goal came in the 78th minute when Slobodan Rajkovic headed home from a corner kick. Regular fouls made the Olympic clash ugly to watch at times and the Serbians, many of whom played in the Serbian team that was runners up in last year’s Euro U21 tournament, will be disappointed they could not steal the win.

Australian coach Graham Arnold said after the game that he was proud of the Olyroos and happy that that result meant they were still in with a chance of qualifying for the knock out stages of the competition.

“They all worked unbelievably hard in very trying conditions. Sometimes we did turn possession over too quickly but that might have been down to the occasion.”

Australia’s next match will be against Argentina on August 10. Argentina beat Ivory Coast 2-1 last night and currently sits at the top of Group A.
Australia line-up:

1. Adam Federici (gk), 2. Jade North, 4. Mark Milligan (c) (16. Billy Celeski 66’), 5. Matthew Spiranovic, 6. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 8. Stuart Musialik, 10. Archie Thompson (15. Kristian Sarkies 76’), 11. David Carney, 12. Trent McClenahan, 13. Ruben Zadkovich, 17. Nikita Rukavytsya (9. Mark Bridge 88’).

Serbia line-up:

1. Vladimir Stojkovic (gk) (c), 2. Marko Jovanovic, 3. Aleksandar Kolarov, 5. Slobodan Rajkovic, 7. Milan Smiljanic, 8. Nikola Gulan (4. Gojko Kacar +73′), 9. Djordje Rakic (14. Milan Mrdakovic +56′), 12. Dusan Tadic, 13. Ljubomir Fejsa (15. Aleksander Zivkovic +77′) 16. Nenad Tomovic, 17. Zoran Tosic.

Referee: Jerome Damon (RSA)
Crowd: 36,184

By James Heffield, Betfair soccer bet journalist

Australia midfielder Stuart Musialik has left A-League champion Newcastle Jets to join Sydney FC.

Musialik is the fourth off-season signing for Sydney following the acquisitions of another Newcastle player, Mark Bridge, Central Coast’s John Aloisi and Perth’s Simon Colosimo.

Sydney coach John Kosmina says his club’s salary cap is getting tighter, but he may still make a couple more signings.

Newcastle product Musialik says he is impressed by Sydney’s off-season recruitment and the signing of Bridge was a factor in him switching camps.

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Stuart Musialik, the young midfielder with the golden touch, is now ex-pected to stay with the Newcastle Jets.

While the Jets will look towards go-to-man Joel Griffiths for the goals, Musialik’s distribution will be the real key for Newcastle in the A-League grand final against Central Coast at Sydney Football Stadium.

Musialik has given an indication through his new agent Tom Brooks that he will stay in his home town.

Jets football director Remo Nogarotto said that initial talks with Brooks had been very positive.

“There is goodwill with both sides,” Nogarotto said. “We have agreed how the framework will be put together. We decided to put the pencils down until after the grand final and pick them up again on Monday.”

The Jets are also hoping to secure Ruben Zadkovich, who has been released by Sydney FC and who also has Brooks as his manager.

“I’d like to have the two players signed up before they leave for San Francisco on Wednesday with Australia,” Nogarotto said.

Nogarotto remains confident that Tarek Elrich and Adam D’Apuzzo, who are also in the Olympic squad for the game against Mexico on March 2, will be wearing the Jets’ colours again after the grand final.

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