Soccer: Australia draw with Serbia

Ranko Despotovic, left, of Serbia contests with Matthew McKay of Australia for the ball. Photo / Getty Images

Goalkeeper Adam Federici and midfielder Brett Holman starred as the Socceroos and Serbia played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in their international in Melbourne.

Federici made four excellent second half saves, while Holman turned in his usual all-action performance on Tuesday night.

Both sides had plenty of chances to win the rematch of the World Cup showdown in South Africa last year won by the Socceroos.

Australia had several golden opportunities to break the deadlock, with midfielder Mile Jedinak's first-half shot blocked by a Serbian defender their best of the first half.

Serbia's best hope was fluffed badly by midfielder Adem Ljajic, who somehow shot over the bar on 40 minutes from five metres out.

As both sides continued to pass slickly in the second half, Federici was called into action twice in two minutes early in the period.

First he saved brilliantly at the feet of Serb midfielder Zoran Tosic, who dribbled past several Socceroos defenders.

Then he saved from Ljajic - just minutes before a flare thrown by Serbian fans landed menacingly just metres behind his goal.

Holman's tireless running then started to pay off.

He shot just over the bar in the 61st minute, before three minutes later scraping paint off the left-hand upright with a thundering low shot reminiscent of his World Cup goal against Serbia.

Federici then managed two more excellent diving saves, stopping from Nenad Tomovic and Radosav Petrovic late in the half.

Sandwiched in between was Australia's best chance of the match, with neat build-up putting substitute James Troisi one-on-one with the goalkeeper only to shoot weakly in the 79th minute.

The result against the world No.16 Serbia takes Socceroos coach Holger Osieck's record to eight wins, four draw and two losses from his 14 matches in charge.

Osieck admitted to some disappointment at the looseness of the Socceroos' passing at times.

But overall he was pleased with the depth uncovered in this game and the 3-0 win over New Zealand ahead of the World Cup qualifiers expected to start in September.

"Basically, I got a lot more positives than negatives," Osieck said.

"We are not at the end of the road (of finding more depth).

"We are enlarging our squad. We have definitely already a couple more players who can really play for the Socceroos and that is really very positive."

Serbia coach Vladimir Petrovic was also impressed with what the Socceroos had to offer.

"I am very surprised with the level Australian football is on and they are certainly a very strong team, and they showed this," he said.