Press article:

Olyroos trounce Serbia and Montenegro - 16/08/2004

The Qantas Under 23's emphatically announced their quarter final ambitions overnight, thrashing Serbia and Montenegro 5-1 in the second match of their Athens 2004 campaign.

Tim Cahill (pictured right) began the snowball that was Australia's avalanche of goals in the eleventh minute, which was complemented by a brace a piece to John Aloisi and Ahmad Elrich.

Serbia and Montenegro's goal came from substitute Srdan Radonjic, who capitalized on a Eugene Galekovic error to stab home the European's only consolation midway through the second half.

Galekovic's miscalculation was the only blemish in an otherwise flawless match from the Portuguese-bound 'keeper, who can be accredited for his sides dominant display following a fine penalty save in the first half.

With the Qantas Under 23's leading 1-0 thanks to Cahill's opener, the former South Melbourne man leapt benevolently to his left to deny Simon Vukcevic's effort, after Craig Moore was adjudged to have brought down Andrija Delibasic in the penalty area, as he tried to shield the ball for Galekovic.

Galekovic's fine save, low to his left, swung momentum the way of the Australians and Frank Farina's men were relatively unchallenged by the lethargic Serbia and Montenegro side for the remainder of the match.

Cahill's match opener and first goal for the Qantas Under 23's arrived courtesy of a pinpoint corner from Westerlo-bound attacker Alex Brosque.

As has become quite a habit for the Everton midfielder, Cahill positioned himself perfectly to head home Brosque's cross and hand Australia a precious early advantage.

After an enterprising start, Serbia and Montenegro lost their momentum following Cahill's nodded goal and failed to challenge Galekovic's net with any consistency throughout the half.

Following the penalty save, Osasuna striker Aloisi doubled Australia's advantage on the stroke of half time following a perfectly executed quick counter-attack. The ball was played out to Elrich and with three defenders converging on him his placed his pass perfectly for Aloisi, who finished off with great diligence.

Showing all the experience of his years, Aloisi took one touch before lifting his left-footed effort above the advancing Nikola Milojevic to lead the Qantas Under 23's to the break with their heads held high.

Unlike the match against Tunisia, Australia were determined not to let their opposition back into the match and continued to go on the front foot in the second half , with Aloisi netting his third of the campaign in the 57th minute.

Adrian Madaschi's header from a Luke Wilkshire corner was well saved by the keeper, but Aloisi was quick to pounce on the rebound, who made no mistake from inside the six-yard box.

Within two minutes, Elrich took the Australian tally to four following a clinical first time strike that left Milojevic helpless.

Wilkshire was again the provider, having played a menacing ball into the area that ricocheted into Elrich's path.

The Busan Icons speedster added his second in the closing minutes after being set free by substitute Brett Holman on the right wing.

This time, Milojevic was to blame, having allowed Elrich's effort to trickle through his legs and become the eleventh goal put past Vladimir Petrovic's men in two matches.

However were it not for some fine saves from the Serbia and Montenegro goalkeeper and some lazy finishing from the Qantas Under 23's, Australia may well have toppled double figures in a clash they dominated for the vast majority.

Elrich, Cahill, Wilkshire and substitutes Holman, Anthony Danze and Ryan Griffiths all had good additional chances to score in the second half, but ultimately to no avail.

Goalscorer Elrich said after the match, "We knew we had to win tonight, our job though hasn’t finished yet.

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