Pharaohs fall to Serbia defeat

Serbia rounded off a good day for Group E’s European hopefuls with a 3-1 win over Egypt that leaves them top of the section, just ahead of Czech Republic on goal difference. In a tight, defence-dominated match at Bangkok’s Huamark Indoor Stadium, goals from Vadin Bojovic, Slobodan Jancic and Mladen Kocic secured the points and left the Pharaohs needing a positive result in their next match against the Czechs. The first half produced little in the way of incident, with Serbia recovering from a poor start to create the best of the chances, Bojovic hitting the post in one particularly dangerous attack. The bustling No13 was back for more three minutes into the second half though, and this time the outcome was his country’s first goal at the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Egypt, however, will curse themselves for allowing Bojovic to sneak in unnoticed at a corner and sweep home Bojan Pavicevic’s cross from all of one yard. The Pharaohs pushed for an equaliser but lacked imagination in the final third and were punished again three minutes from time when Jancic scored from the penalty spot after a foul by Mizo. Kocic then increased the deficit from the penalty spot, although Ahmed Mohamed pulled a goal back in the final minute with a superb left-foot shot from a seemingly impossible angle. FIFA