Republic of Ireland 1-1 Serbia: Late own goal gives under-pressure Stephen Kenny his best result as manager

3 years ago 57

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A late own goal gave the Republic of Ireland their best result under Stephen Kenny as they drew with Serbia in a World Cup qualifier in Dublin.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's clever header from a Dusan Tadic corner put the Serbs ahead.

The Republic were then indebted to teenager Gavin Bazunu, who made 10 saves to keep the visitors at bay.

They snatched a point when Milinkovic-Savic's 86th-minute clearance went in off Nikola Milenkovic.

The hosts then pressed for a late winner - in front of a raucous crowd - but Serbia almost won it when Nemanja Gudelj's long-range free-kick hit the bar.

The Republic's run of competitive games without a win under Kenny extended to 12 - but this felt like a success with the late drama and spirited comeback.

Serbia now trail Portugal by two points at the top of Group A in the battle for a World Cup spot, while Kenny's side are second bottom with just two points.

It is more than two years and 16 matches since the Republic won a competitive game, following a June 2019 victory over Gibraltar.

More to follow.

Line-ups

R. of Ireland

Formation 3-5-1-1

1Bazunu
22Omobamidele
4Duffy
5Egan
2Doherty
18McGrathSubstituted forHorganat 67'minutes
6CullenSubstituted forMolumbyat 66'minutesBooked at 89mins
13HendrickSubstituted forHourihaneat 78'minutes
11McClean
7BrowneBooked at 50minsSubstituted forRobinsonat 58'minutes
9IdahBooked at 31minsSubstituted forCollinsat 79'minutes

Substitutes

3Manning
8Hourihane
10Parrott
12Robinson
14Christie
15Horgan
16Kelleher
17Molumby
19Collins
20Arter
21Scales
23Talbot

Serbia

Formation 3-4-1-2

12Rajkovic
4Milenkovic
15Veljkovic
2Pavlovic
21DjuricicBooked at 25minsSubstituted forRadonjicat 70'minutesBooked at 85mins
20Milinkovic-Savic
8Gudelj
17KosticSubstituted forLazovicat 87'minutes
10TadicSubstituted forMaksimovicat 83'minutes
18VlahovicSubstituted forJovicat 70'minutes
9Mitrovic

Substitutes

1Dmitrovic
3Mladenovic
5Ilic
6Maksimovic
7Radonjic
11Jovic
13Mitrovic
14Racic
16Lukic
19Ristic
22Lazovic
23Svilar

Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez

Live Text

Match ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Serbia 1.
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Serbia 1.
Predrag Rajkovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland).
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Attempt blocked. John Egan (Republic of Ireland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Hourihane with a cross.
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Predrag Rajkovic.
Attempt saved. Andrew Omobamidele (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jayson Molumby.
Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland).
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Darko Lazovic.
Jayson Molumby (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nemanja Gudelj (Serbia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jayson Molumby (Republic of Ireland).
Substitution, Serbia. Darko Lazovic replaces Filip Kostic.
Own Goal by Nikola Milenkovic, Serbia. Republic of Ireland 1, Serbia 1.
Attempt missed. John Egan (Republic of Ireland) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Robinson with a cross.
Nemanja Radonjic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, Serbia. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic tries a through ball, but Nemanja Radonjic is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Filip Kostic (Serbia) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nemanja Radonjic.