September 03, 2010: UEFA Euro 2012 Qualifier, Group C:
Faroe Islands - Serbia 0-3 (0-2) 14' 0-1 Danko Lazovic 18' 0-2 Dejan Stankovic 90' 0-3 Nikola Zigic
Serbia beat the Faroe Islands 3-0 but have to cheat with a "Thierry Henry-style" pass to take the lead.
Having survived a couple of decent opportunities in the first 10 minutes of the match, the Faroes went behind with a cheated goal after 13 minutes.
Milan Jovanovic entered the penalty area with speed and fell, but lying on the ground, he made a pass with his hand – "Thierry Henry-style" – to Nikola Zigic who left it to Danko Lazovic to make the simple finish. In addition to that, the goal should also have been disallowed for off side.
- The luck of the Irish is certainly not following Faroese coach Brian Kerr from Ireland; with the Faroes conceding twice in stoppage time against Estonia in the opener last month and now conceding the opening goal after a Serbian cheat.
It took the Serbs only four minutes to double their lead when Dejan Stankovic scored directly on a free kick where goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen maybe left too much room on his right hand side and made it too easy for the Inter-man to just lift the ball over the wall. The free kick had been awarded when Jovanovic was brought down just outside the penalty area after a solo run. Jovanovic caused the Faroese team a lot of problems as he had too much room to work on between the defence and midfield.
After the goal, Serbia eased the pressure, although they never allowed the Faroes to threaten.
Serbia were in full control of event in the first 20 minutes of the second half and could easily have added to their lead. Especially in one incident they completely outplayed the Faroese defence with a cheeky back-heel, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity, however.
In the last 20 minutes of the match, the Faroe Islands improved considerably and had some close finished.
Símun Samuelen's shot from 20 metres wasn't too far off the far corner, and a couple of times flat crosses from the left only needed a long Faroese tow, in the crowded goal area, to go in.
In one incident Serbia countered with 5 men against one Faroese defender and got clear in the penalty area, but goalkeeper Nielsen saved the Faroes from the blushes as a goal would have looked almost comical.
However, in added time, Nielsen could do little as he was rounded by Nikola Zigic, who was played clear with a fine through-ball to make it 3-0.
See in the video below at 0:52 how Serbia's no. 14 Milan Jovanovic cheats when he plays the ball with his hands. And what is the gesture no. 8, Danko Lazovic - the goal scorer - is doing at 0:27? Is he even smiling and saying: Yes, we used a hand to score that goal!