SERBIA CRUISE AS SCOTLAND SUFFER
FILIP DJURICIC scored two second-half tap-ins to condemn Scotland to a fourth consecutive qualifying defeat and ensure Gordon Strachan’s side became the first to be eliminated from World Cup 2014 qualification. Scotland remain rooted to the bottom of Group A, with just two points and mathematically cannot now qualify for the finals. Strachan made six changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Wales at Hampden Park on Friday night, but they struggled to deal with a technical Serbian side on a difficult surface. Heavy snow had threatened to postpone the fixture, but a late pitch inspection was passed after Scottish fans assisted in the clear up. They might wish they hadn’t bothered. Both sides struggled to play on a bobbly surface and the visitors endured a nervy first half with goalkeeper David Marshall forced to save from Dusan Basta and Filip Djuricic before Zoran Tosic fizzed a shot just wide. Scotland were without Celtic forward Kris Commons, who was absent for personal reasons, and the injured Steven Fletcher and it showed as the visitors struggled to muster any meaningful attacks. They improved after the break and could have taken the lead, but Jordan Rhodes shot straight at goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. It proved a costly miss as Scotland conceded just moments later when Steven Whittaker’s clearance fell kindly to Djuricic to tap in. And the 21-year-old doubled the score when Marshall spilled Nenad Tomovic’s shot straight in to his path. The win moves Serbia above Wales to third in the group, but they remain nine points behind leaders Belgium and face a tough task to qualify.