Sergej sends Serbians in to showdown with Scotland
SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC netted a double with his extra-time strike sending Serbia into a winner-takes-all clash with Scotland next month.
The Lazio midfielder sealed somewhat of a shock result against an up-and-coming Norwegian side that featured Borussia Dortmund’s red-hot Erling Haaland, Real Madrid’s Martin Odegaard and Celtic pair Kris Ajer and Mo Elyounoussi.
But the Serbians pulled off a hard-fought and disciplined display to keep them quiet and edge their way into the Euro play-off final on November 12.
A tense game had barely anything between the sides, with Fulham frontman Aleksandar Mitrovic going closest in the first half when he stabbed the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.
The stalemate continued and it looked like extra-time was on the cards until Milinkovic-Savic broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining, turning home a Mitrovic cross with a well-taken volley.
But the Serbs’ joy was shortlived as Norway hit back with two minutes to go.
Mathias Normann took the ball 20 yards out and skipped past three defenders before cutting a fierce shot across goal and inside the far post.
That took the game to extratime as both sides began to tire it was that man Milinkovic-Savic who made the difference with a remarkable finish.
Heading to the byeline, he dinked the ball up and over Norway keeper Rune Jarstein with everyone expecting him to blast it, catching them out and sealing one of the biggest results in Serbia’s history.
They will now stand between the Tartan Army and the end of Scotland’s 22-year jinx.