O’NEILL’S MEN FAIL TO KOLAR VITAL WIN
Rep of Ireland 0 Serbia 1 World Cup qualifier: Group D, Dublin IRELAND slipped to third in Group D – despite playing the last 20 minutes against 10 men.
On a bitterly disappointing night, Martin O’Neill’s men huffed and puffed but failed to find a way through.
Shane Duffy had the stadium on its feet after 10 minutes when he headed home from Robbie Brady’s rifled cross, only to be correctly flagged for offside.
Shane Long also unleashed a stinging 25-yard shot that was tipped over for a corner.
Aleksandar Mitrovic thought he had put Serbia in front, but Darren Randolph made a reflex save before the ball was cleared.
Ireland had dominated the early stages and created most of the chances, but, as the half moved on, Serbia showed a dangerous side, with Aleksandar Kolarov’s shot blocked, before Antonio Rukavina shot over.
Ten minutes into the second half, Ireland failed to clear their lines and paid the penalty.
Filip Kostic slipped a ball to his left where Kolarov raced on to it and smashed in a thunderbolt.
Then, midway through the half, Daryl Murphy was put through – only for Nikola Maksimovic to pull him down and see red.
Ireland were later denied a huge penalty shout when Murphy was pulled back – but all their other late chances amounted to nothing.