A DESERBED VICTORY IN MOLDOVA FOR LEADERS

SERBIA stayed on course to reach their first major tournament in eight years after goals from Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Mijat Gacinovic gave them a 3-1 win over Georgia. The result provisionally lifted the Serbians, who have not played on the big stage since the 2010 World Cup, to the top of their group with 11 points from five games. Georgia missed several chances after Nika Kacharava gave them a sixth-minute lead with his first international goal after a howler by Aleksandar Kolarov. The Manchester City defender, heavily criticised

after recent performances for the Premier League club, gifted Kacharava a sitter with an awful back pass and the striker beat goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic with a crisp finish. Tadic equalised with a penalty on the stroke of halftime before Mitrovic fired Serbia ahead. The Newcastle United striker took Tadic’s pass in his stride and rifled in a spectacular shot on the turn from 18 metres. Debutant Gacinovic sealed the win with his first international goal and Serbia’s third on the night. Meanwhile, Austria were comfortable in a 2-0 win at home to Moldova.