PORTUGAL will have to qualify for next year’s World Cup the hard way after they lost their final qualifying group game to Serbia 2-1.
Aleksandr Mitrovic scored a 90th-minute winner, sparking rapturous Serb celebrations in Lisbon.
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QATAR CALLING
What a dramatic night of international football!
A goal one minute in, and another a minute from the end, while in between all was frantic, furious and fantastic.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header at the death sent Serbia soaring to the top of Group A and off to the World Cup. Portugal have been left on their knees, but will need to pick themselves up for the play-offs; if the qualifiers have been this good, we can’t wait for those!
Goodnight.
THE FINAL STANDINGS
After eight games and eight months, it all came down to the final minute of the final match.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header means it’s Serbia that top Group A, and will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Portugal will have to make do with a play-off spot.
- Luxembourg 0-3 Republic of Ireland
- Portugal 1-2 Serbia
Credit: UEFA.Com MITROVIC ON A MISSION
Forget what Scott Parker thinks. Don’t listen to lazy pundits with their “lethal at Championship level” caveats.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is one of the most lethal hitmen in the game.
Credit: @Squawka Twitter
SCENES AT ESTADIO DA LUZ
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goal prompted wild scenes of celebration inside Estadio Da Luz, and there was similar pure unbridled joy when the final whistle was blown.
As Serbia’s bench rushed on to the pitch with their arms outstretched, Cristiano Ronaldo sunk to his knees and began to sob.
In a game that was billed as two of the most lethal forwards in the game going head-to-head, it’s very much Mitrovic that has come out on top.
FT: PORTUGAL 1-2 SERBIA
The prince of Fulham is the king of Serbia tonight! Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench to score a last-gasp header to take Dragan Stojkovic’s team to the World Cup at the expense of their beaten hosts. It capped a terrific comeback on the night for Serbia, and a superb recovery for Mitrovic, who was the villain when missing a vital penalty against Scotland in the European Championship play-offs a year ago. This time, it’s the play-offs for Portugal, who couldn’t build on an early Renato Sanches goal to seal qualification. They’ll now have to do it the hard way in March.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!
SERBIA ARE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP!PORTUGAL 1-2 SERBIA
90+4. Claims for a Portugal penalty, more in hope than expectation as Joao Felix goes down in the box, but it’s simply solid defending.
Serbia are almost there.
PORTUGAL 1-2 SERBIA
90+3. Cristiano Ronaldo goes for goal from long range but it sails into the stands.
You’re good, son. But you’re not Aleksandar Mitrovic good.
PORTUGAL 1-2 SERBIA
90+1. Into the first minute of four minutes stoppage time signalled by the fourth official.
Now it’s Portugal that need a goal. What drama.
PORTUGAL 1-2 SERBIA
90. Unbelievable scenes in Lisbon!
Aleksandar Mitrovic has done what he does best – and it surely means Serbia are going to the World Cup!
In the final minute, Dusan Tadic works one final corner short, and curls a wonderful cross to the far post. Peeling off his man, Mitrovic meets it with a firm but well placed downward header that bounces up and beyond Rui Patrico.
The shirt comes off as teammates and staff pile on top of the super sub! The night started with Portuguese celebrations, but it’s going to end with one hell of a Serbian party.
It’s redemption for Mitrovic after his penalty miss in the European Championships play-offs against Scotland, he’s now taking his team to Qatar 2022.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!
MITRO’S ON FIRE!!PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
88. A promising Serbia chance falls apart when Tadic loses possession.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
87. You just get the feeling that there’s another goal in this, but whether it’s a dramatic winner for Serbia or Portugal on the break, I couldn’t guess.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
85. Fernando Santos eats up a few more seconds with another double substitution.
Ruben Neves and Joao Felix are introduced this time; Diogo Jota and Renato Sanches – the man who started the evening off in sensational fashion – are withdrawn.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
83. The Serbian midfielder this time goes for the near post delivery, and this time it’s a certain Cristiano Ronaldo who is back to clear the lines for his country.
Serbia keep on coming, however, and when Kostic curls in another beauty from the left, Mitrovic meets it on the run with a flashing header that spins a yard wide of the post.
It’s a chance. A difficult one, but a chance all the same.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
82. A Tadic free-kick is flicked behind, and the midfielder will get another chance to test the Portugal defence with a set-piece.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
80. Another Tadic delivery, another easily claimed by Rui Patricio.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
79. Mendes takes no chances as he pokes behind another testing left wing cross for another Serbian corner.
The game is on a knife edge. You can sense the nerves of those in the stands, and quite a few on the pitch too.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
76. Was that the moment?!
A lovely low centre from Kostic is collected by Vlahovic, who takes a delicate touch to flick the ball up, and then hits a volley that smashes into a defender.
The ball ricochets on to Mitrovic, who is immediately called offside.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
75. Into the final quarter of an hour, and Serbia still need a goal.
Is it time to start throwing players forward?
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
73. A brilliant block tackle from Nuno Mendes stops a potentially dangerous corner from entering the Portugal six-yard box, but does bring a corner for the visitors.
It comes to nothing when Danilo is adjudged to have been fouled.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
72. All these free-kicks and bookings have made the game incredibly stop-start, slowing it down from its frenetic first half pace.
It almost certainly suits Portugal.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
70. And another one!
It’s Nikola Milenkovic carded this time for cynically blocking the path of Jota.
It was initially reported that he was booked for dissent in the first half, but that now appears to be inaccurate.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
67. And now Renato Sanches joins Pavlovic in Daniele Orsato’s book.
The Portugal goalscorer is cautioned for bringing down Dusan Vlahovic as he threatened to break.
PORTUGAL 1-1 SERBIA
66. Pavlovic slides in on newcomer Palhinha on the near touchline and concedes a free-kick.
The centre-back points out that he got a touch on the ball, but referee Daniele Orsato points out that he went through his opponent to do so – as he pulls out his yellow card.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
