Six-goal Serbia sparkle in Pasching

Dušan Tadić was the inspiration as Serbia got their UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign back on track, scoring two and creating another in an entertaining victory against Russia.

Flurry of goals
Zvonko Zivković's side began Group A by losing to France, but two goals in the first 24 minutes in Pasching, from Rodoljub Marjanović and Miloš Bosančić, were the perfect antidote. Although Russia substitute Vladimir Dyadyun pulled one back before half-time, Tadić struck twice early in the second period to effectively ensure three vital points. Substitute Nenad Marinković confirmed the victory with his own double in the final ten minutes after Dyadyun had struck again. Serbia return to Pasching to play Germany in their final group game on Saturday, when Russia take on France in Steyr.

Serbia surge
Serbia had scored twice in the first 35 minutes of Monday's 5-2 defeat and again started brighter, Marjanović bursting clear in the eleventh minute only to check back on to his left foot, allowing Sergei Borodin to tip his shot over. The resulting corner was played short, however, and when Tadić swung in a left-wing cross the Russia goalkeeper made only the faintest of connections and Marjanović duly volleyed in at the far post. Borodin was exposed again 13 minutes later as Bosančić galloped on to a long ball and calmly drilled a low shot across the goalkeeper to double Serbia's lead.

Tadić on target
Tadić and Miralem Sulejmani both then had clear sights of the Russia goal, before Aleksandr Salugin’s mis-hit shot called Serbia's Branislav Danilović into action for the first time. The goalkeeper was helpless three minutes before half-time, however, as Dyadyun – who had replaced Artem Pershin only four minutes earlier – thumped in from the left-hand side of the penalty area. Hopes of a Russian revival suffered a serious knock just two minutes into the second period as Tadić took advantage of some hesitant defending to prod past Borodin and restore Serbia's two-goal cushion to the delight of their supporters behind the Russia goal.

Victory assured
Russia reacted quickly and Danilović had to save with his right leg after Artem Dzyuba had latched on to Salugin's clever flick, but Tadić added his second goal in eleven minutes, twisting and turning inside the area before finding the corner of the net with a low shot. Although Russia again replied swiftly, again through Dyadyun, their opponents had the last word as Marinković struck twice in the final ten minutes to round off a win that revives Serbia's aspirations of reaching the semi-finals.