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Serbian national team recorded a hard-fought 2-1 win over Mali after extra time to secure their place in the final of the Under20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Veljko Paunovic’s charges took an early lead through Benfica-bound winger Andrija Zivkovic and missed several excellent chances to score before Youssouf Kone levelled the score ahead of the half-time break.
The match went to extra time as neither side were able to add to their first-half strikes, but FK Partizan Belgrade striker Ivan Saponjic became the hero as he scored the winner near the end of the first extra time period.
The two goalscorers for Serbia missed two glorious chances in the dying stages of the game, but Mali were unable to avoid defeat in North Shore.
This means that Veljko Paunovic’s charges will be vying Brazil for the coveted title after the Seleccao hammered Senegal 5-0 in the first semi-final.
Serbia have now achieved their biggest success at this youth level as an independent country after the Yugoslavia squad lifted the title at the 1987 U20 World Youth Championship.