Mitrovic scores double off bench to sink Ireland
The Republic of Ireland suffered a losing start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as out-of-sorts Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench to score a second-half double and earn Serbia a comeback victory.
Ireland coach Stephen Kenny, who has not had a win in his first nine games in charge, said his side were excellent in the opening 25 minutes and rued a failed penalty appeal for a challenge on Aaron Connolly. “Serbia made tactical changes and then dominated possession,” Kenny said. “We had a blatant penalty denied when we could have gone 2-1 up and that was a very pivotal moment in the game.”
Alan Browne’s close-range header gave Ireland the lead in their Group A clash but Dusan Vlahovic levelled before the break with a first-time shot after Dusan Tadic nodded the ball into his stride. Tadic pulled the strings for Serbia and helped them breach the Irish defence again by setting up Mitrovic to score a delightful 68th-minute lob.
Tadic added a third assist when he picked out Mitrovic with a sublime cross from the left and the striker beat Mark Travers with a firm header. James Collins set up a tense finish when he bundled the ball in from two yards in the 86th minute but the hosts held on.
Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic revealed he had spoken to Mitrovic about his form. “I told him that he can’t live in the past,” said Stojkovic. “He was going through a rough patch but I never doubted him.” Serbia (3-4-3) Dmitrovic; Milenkovic, S Mitrovic, Pavlovic; Gajic, Lukic, Racic (Maksimovic 63), Mladenovic (Kostic 45); Tadic (Gudelj 78), Vlahovic (Jovic 82), Djuricic (A Mitrovic 63). Subs Milinkovic-savic, Ristic, Nikolic, Spajic, Rajkovic, Radonjic, Petkovic. Booked Pavlovic.
Rep Ireland (3-5-2) Travers; Coleman, O’shea, Clark (Brady 79); Doherty, Molumby (Hendrick 61), Cullen, Browne (Collins 97), Stevens; Connolly (Long 67), Robinson (Mcclean 79). Subs Horgan, Christie, Knight, Bazunu, O’hara, Duffy, Lenihan.
Referee Davide Massa (Italy).