Serbia, Germany level at 0-0 after 15 minutes of Group D match at World Cup

Serbia, Germany level after 15 minutes

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Serbia and Germany were tied 0-0 after 15 minutes of their Group D match at the World Cup.

Germany beat Australia 4-0 in its first match and had the best early scoring chance in the seventh minute Friday when Lukas Podolski’s left-footed strike went wide of the left post.

Milos Ninkovic then kicked high and wide of the German goal in the 12th.

Miroslav Klose of Germany received a yellow card from referee Alberto Undiano for a trip, also in the 12th minute.

The field at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium had three straight days of rain earlier in the week but was holding up early in the match.

FIFA banned both teams from the usual pre-match day training Thursday and used giant heat lamps to dry the field.