Wales shaken by smart Alek

WELSH dreams of a first World Cup appearance in 60 years are hanging by a thread despite a colossal rearguard performance in Belgrade.

Aaron Ramsey chipped Wales ahead from the penalty spot to have Wales fans dreaming of another assault at a major tournament.

But Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic came back to haunt Chris Coleman’s men with a calm finish in the 73rd minute after his late header in Cardiff last November.

Wales knew they had to avoid defeat if they were to stay in the running for a place at next year’s World Cup and David Edwards had a great chance early on but failed to make a solid contact with Joe Ledley’s corner.

Serbia grew into the contest but Mitrovic was called offside after a diving header hit the side netting, before he powered another over the bar.

But the hosts were made to pay after two defensive errors in quick succession.

A moment of madness from keeper Vladimir Stojkovic saw him try to shepherd a long ball out of play but allowed Ramsey to steal in before he was brought down clumsily. Ledley whipped the resulting free-kick into the box and the referee pointed to the spot when he spotted Luka Milivojevic pulling at JONATHAN WALTERS kept the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup hopes on track as he denied Austria victory in a dramatic finish in Dublin.

Walters’ equaliser with five minutes to go cancelled out Martin Hinteregger’s strike – and Shane Duffy had what he thought was a winner ruled out seconds later.

The draw means Ireland maintain their four-point

SERBIA

Sam Vokes’ shirt. Ramsey stepped up to score with a Panenka penalty in the same stadium and at the same end where it was first done by Antonín Panenka in 1976, the goal sparking clashes between both sets of fans.

Ben Davies made a vital interception as the visitors kept their lead intact.

Serbia wanted a penalty of their own for handball when Joe Allen blocked Dusan Tadic’s cross, but their claims were waved away.

The signs were ominous for Wales when Aleksandar Kolarov curled a free-kick inches wide but Vokes then went close with a header.

But Serbia levelled when Aleksandar Prijovic played Mitrovic in and he fired the ball past Wayne Hennessy.

Ramsey had a shot deflected wide as Wales had to settle for an unwanted record of five straight draws.

SERBIA: ROUND-UP

the

Goal: Booked:

lead over Group D.

On Saturday, Stuart Dallas scored an injury-time winner to inch Northern Ireland closer to a play-off place with a 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan.

Michael O’Neill’s team opened up a four-point gap in second place in Group C before September’s doubleheader with San Marino and the Czech Republic. Austrians in