Klose sent off; Podolski misses penalty PORT ELIZABETH – Serbia stunned Germany with a 1-0 win after Miroslav Klose was sent off and Lukas Podolski missed a penalty in Group D Friday to secure its first World Cup victory as an independent nation. Milan Jovanovic grabbed the winner in the 38th minute with Germany in disarray moments after striker Klose was sent off for a foul that landed him with a second yellow card. Germany should have equalized in the 61st when Nemanja Vidic needlessly handled in the area but goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic dived to his left to save Podolski's spot kick. The result takes the shine off a young German side that came into the match high on confidence after hammering Australia 4-0 in its opener and gives World Cup newcomer Serbia a chance to reach the second round after it lost 1-0 to Ghana. Germany still leads Group D with three points from two games, ahead of Ghana and Serbia, also on three, and Australia on none. Ghana and Australia meet Saturday in their second game. “I believed my players could do this,” said Serbia coach Radomir Antic. “We've a great opportunity where we depend only on ourselves in the next match. This is a very important win for our people.” At the 2006 World Cup in GermanySerbia & Montenegro had lost all three group matches, conceding 10 goals, before they began competing as separate countries. “We had eight yellow cards and (a second) yellow (for Klose), I think this was not necessary,” said disappointed Germany coach Joachim Loew. “There were a couple of tackles where I felt the yellow cards were justified but there were many... given for tackles that weren't malicious at all and could have been avoided.” Until Klose's dismissal the Germans had been in control of the match, playing with attacking flair, fast breaks and fluid movement off the ball that left Serbia on the back foot. The game was turned upside down seven minutes later when the German forward was given his marching orders after receiving a second booking for bringing down Milos Krasic. With the Germans stunned, Serbia took full advantage and snatched the lead a minute later with a superb team effort that culminated in Jovanovic's close-range strike. Zdravko Kuzmanovic slid the ball into the path of Krasic, who delivered a delightful cross that was headed to the unmarked Jovanovic, who chested down and converted on the turn. Germany quickly tried to level the score and burst forward, with Khedira seizing on Stojkovic's punched clearance to unleash a fierce long-range shot that cannoned off the bar. Podolski almost equalized after 56 minutes when he chased Khedira's long pass and struck the ball wide under threat from the onrushing Vidic. The pressure paid off three minutes later when Germany was awarded a penalty for handball by Vidic but Podolski's poorly struck spot-kick was turned away by Stojkovic, who was later named man of the match. “I'm usually a secure penalty taker but the goalkeeper saved the ball well,” said Podolski.
