By Dan Silkstone
Mark Schwarzer
Kept Australia in it early as Serbia tore the Socceroos apart with slick passing and counter-attack down both wings. Brilliant reflex saves shut out Milos Krasic and Branko Ivanovic - the latter from almost point-blank range. Picked the ball out of his net but could not have been expected to stop the Krasic goal that was quickly ruled offside. Had little to do for an hour or so before spilling Zoran Tosic's dipping shot and leaving sub Marko Pantelic an easy tap-in. Life can be hard for a keeper but he should have held onto it and the error cost Australia much of its hard-won momentum. 6.5/10
Brett Holman celebrates his goalCredit: Steve Christo
Luke Wilkshire
Haunted by the spurned chance to seal a late win against Ghana, Wilkshire entered this match desperate to atone. He matched up on the damaging Milan Jovanovic and split honours early. Jovanovic went past him to set up Krasic for a goal that was ruled offside, but Wilkshire still tried to get forward without neglecting his defensive duties.
Embarrassed in the 50th minute when Jovanovic perfectly nutmegged him and responded poorly with a cynical scything tackle that earned him a yellow card. His delivery is usually impeccable and he did not disappoint on 69 minutes, whipping in the cross that found Cahill's head for the goal. Had won his tough battle with Jovanovic by the time he tweaked his groin on a typically-raiding run and was replaced by Richard Garcia. 7.5/10
Lucas Neill
Virtually man of the match against Ghana but a more low-key presence here. Did not have the instant understanding with Beauchamp that he has long shared with Moore, as evidenced by the 34th minute cross that found Zigic - unaccompanied - between the two Australian defenders. Gave Zigic so much time and space that the ungainly striker was able to nod the ball down to himself, control it and shoot, early in the second. He was lucky it did not cost them a goal. As always, his strength was in his timing and ability to read the play. Was still making telling interceptions late as Serbia pressed for an equaliser. 6.5/10
Michael Beauchamp
Has barely played a minute for his country in two years and recently been plying his trade on the bench in the United Arab Emirates league. But sure, why not come into the team for a must-win World Cup match, replacing a national legend in Craig Moore and having to contain Valencia's Nikola Zigic, the tallest man in the tournament. Easy. Got to the ball first against Zigic when Jovanovic crossed dangerously on 17 minutes, but allowed the Serbian giant more space to operate in than he been gifted against Germany or Ghana. Reluctant to play his way out of defence when Australia were under pressure, instead he hit it long too often and handed posession straight back.
Did well to shepherd Jovanovic out of play when he burst into the box and made a crucial interceptig tackle minutes later as he grew in confidence. Showed enough to suggest he could be a medium-term partner for Neill. 6/10
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Match report: Australia 2 Serbia 1
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David Carney
Came in for Scott Chipperfield against Ghana and kept his place, despite being targeted by the Ghanaians. He was targeted again last night, turning the ball over in the opening minute in a lapse that could have cost a goal, and beaten on the outside by Liverpool-bound Milos Krasic soon after as Australia had a nervous start.
Krasic could have had three goals in the opening five minutes as - not just Carney but Australia's entire left side - was exposed by the Serb's pace. Got a Bronx cheer seven minutes in when he finally managed to win a contest against red-hot Krasic. Ventured forward to put in a cross on 11 minutes but was easily skinned on the counter as a through ball released his man, who should have scored. Zdravko Kuzamanovic spurned another golden chance on 16 minutes and it was again made on Carney's wing. It was a nightmare first half but he battled manfully and kept trying to overlap in attack despite knowing the risk of leaving his man unattended. 5/10
Jason Culina
If Australia was to take the game on aggressively Culina needed to use his vision and passing range to initiate rapid and direct attacks. Instead, as they were pushed back on their heels early he resorted to the sideways balls that did little other than impose that burden on the likes of Bresciano and Valeri.
Serbia had the artillery on the wings, the big frontman and the sturdy defence to beat Australia. If the Socceroos were to win they needed to wrest control of central midfield. It was something they were unable to do as Ninkovic, Kuzmanovic and Stankovic moved and passed at will. Culina tried to press forward more in the second half and hit a skidding long range shot just wide when the ball bobbled invitingly to him on the edge of the box. Started getting on top after an hour with neat touches, including a backheel pass that released Brett Holman for one of the goals of the tournament. He faded towards the end. 6/10
Carl Valeri
Played well against Ghana and needed another big night, faced with a hard-working Serb midfield. Australia simply could not keep the ball in the first half and he must take some responsibility for that. Never stopped trying or running though, and was far from Australia's worst. Dispossessed Zigic and fed Bresciano for a stinging shot that was a rare bright spot during a period in which Australia were beleagured. Was sacrificed for the more attacking option of Holman as Australia chased the game. 6.5/10
Brett Emerton
Gave away possession too easily in the midfield and did not hurt Serbia going the other way in the opening half hour. His mazey run released Bresciano to cross for Cahill's header, which went wide in Australia's first clear-cut chance, but at other times he struggled to contain his man and resorted to fouling. Came into it more in the second half and Australia looked better for it as he pushed forward and linked up with the front two. Australia is still yet to see his best since he returned from long-term injury. 5.5/10.
Mark Bresciano
Possibly in his last game for the green and gold and sadly not playing it alongside his old mate Vince Grella. Needed to work extra hard to support Carney as it became clear early that the right flank would be the intended route to goal for Serbia. Played a neat one-two with Wilkshire that could have led to more early. Ranged all over the park as he was among most of Australia's positive moves in the first half, but needed to press more when not in possession as Serbia's midfielders enjoyed too much time to pick their passes.
With his dead ball skills and long range shooting, though, consistently looked like the Socceroos most likely scorer when they were under the kosh. Was substitued for Scott Chipperield on 65 minutes and Australia immediately looked more energetic for it. 5/10
Tim Cahill
Back in the nick of time after missing the Ghana match because of his red card tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. Missed a difficult headed chance early and did not look like forming a fluid partnership with Kennedy, but used his trademark late arrival to get a boot on a shot that could have put Australia ahead five minutes before half time. Could not test the keeper with a long range effort on 50 minutes and hardly looked like scoring until, of course, he did with a typically competitive heasded goal on 69 minutes. Simply cannot be kept down and turned Australia's night around by sheer force of will. But still not one of his best games. 7/10
Josh Kennedy
Finally got his chance - and the appearance Socceroo fans have been clamouring for. Stepped into battle against one of the toughest defences in world football and was immediately picked up by Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic. Room to move? Negligible.
Competed hard and won a corner on 20 minutes, before almost getting on the end of it at the far post. His strengths and weaknesses were easily apparent. Without Kewell or Holman up front, Australia put up little resembling link-up play. In Kennedy and Cahill they had two players capable of getting into the right position but nobody capable of getting them the ball. Got his head to a clear chance on the stroke of halftime but guided it weakly to the goalkeeper. With the ball on the ground he lacked the pace or strength to trouble Vidic.
Had a chance for glory on 87 minutes when David Carney picked him out with a good ball but blazed wide. Unsurprisingly he looked more threatening when Holman and Chipperfield came on to assist him. 4.5/10
Substitutes
Brett Holman
Came on for Valeri, tasked with adding more firepower and responded with a 35-metre wondergoal. The transition from whipping boy to cult hero must surely now be complete for the Dutch-based striker. Played like a man with turbo chargers as he ran down every ball and could have had a second late-on when Kennedy put through a perfect through ball. . On the basis of this performance should definitely have started. The way forward as Australia builds a new side for 2014. 8/10
Scott Chipperfield
Replaced Bresciano and slotted in at wide left. Won the ball in midfield and released his teammates as Australia charged for a third goal. 7/10
Richard Garcia
Had little time to make an impression but did nothing wrong and worked some nice link-up moves with the midfield. 3/10