Nine-man Belarus bow out

By Mark Bennett at the Stadion Niederrhein

Serbia and Montenegro booked their place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals by coming from behind to defeat nine-man Belarus in Oberhausen.

Swedish date
Vladimir Petrovic's side will face Sweden here in the last four after goals from Danko Lazovic and Dejan Milovanic enabled them to qualify at the expense of the Belarussians, who had Timofei Kalachev and Aleksandr Gleb dismissed.

Milovanic winner
Belarus had taken an early lead on 13 minutes when Oleg Shkabara struck, but only 60 seconds later fortunes changed when Kalachev was sent off. Lazovic's leveller was swiftly followed by Milovanic's winner before the second red card finished the match as a contest.

Lively start
Both teams looked eager to stamp their authority on the match early. Belarus pushed forward first and earned a free-kick on the edge of the area after Sergei Kornilenko had been brought down. Kalachev stepped up, but curled his second-minute effort over the bar. Five minutes later Danko Lazovic blasted over then Goran Lovre twice went close and Kalachev saw his shot palmed away by Nikola Milojevic.

Mixed fortunes
However, Belarus soon got the breakthrough when Kalachev sent a free-kick into the penalty area and Oleg Shkabara outjumped the Serbo-Montenegrin defence to give his side the lead. However, 60 seconds later Yuri Puntus' side were reduced to ten men when Kalachev arrived late on Lovre and was given his marching orders by referee Alexandru Tudor.

Delibasic denied
Andrija Delibasic was the only player to really trouble the Belarussian defence, when his header had to be cleared off the line by Roman Kirenkin. At the other end, Viachaslau Gleb broke away after a piercing ball from his brother Aleksandr on 36 minutes, but was denied by Milojevic.

Tarasenka leveller
Simon Vukcevic sent a header crashing against the Belarus crossbar as Serbia and Montenegro struggled to make their one-man advantage count before half-time but it took just two minutes of the second half to find an equaliser. Valery Tarasenka pulled Delibasic down in the penalty area and Feyenoord striker Lazovic calmly sent Yury Zhaunou the wrong way from the spot.

Second red
Serbia and Montenegro's constant pressure paid further dividends eight minutes later when Delibasic headed down a cross from Dejan Milovanovic and Zhaunou had no chance with the midfield player's curling 16-metre effort. Belarus were promptly reduced to nine men when Aleksandr Gleb was sent off.

Desperate defeat
After taking the lead, Serbia and Montenegro no longer pushed forward in earnest but had little trouble keeping out the Belarussians, who bowed out of the competition with this desperate defeat.