Portugal vs Serbia – Live Blog
2’ GOAL! Renato Sanches
Gudelji is caught in possession by Renato Sanches, who begins the high press and Serbia are unable to deal with it as Nemanja Gudelji slips under pressure and loses possession to Renatjo Sanches, who pounces and beats the keeper from close range. A perfect start for Portugal.
8’ YELLOW CARD – Joao Cancelo
Pavolivic pounces on a loose pass and just beats Cancelo to the ball, who wipes him out in a just late 50-50 challenge. He sees his name in the book for the offence.
9’ – Renato Sanches beats Milos Veljkovic for pace in the 18 yard box, and puts his body across Veljkovic cleverly and is brought down by the centre half, who is brought down by the challenge. The referee decided to ignore the claims for a penalty and play went on from a Serbia goal kick.
13’ YELLOW CARD – NEMANJA GUDELJI
33’ GOAL! Dusan Tadic
Serbia regain possession within their own half and counter attack Portugal, with Dusan Tadic being given too much time and space to shift the ball past Joao Moutinho with ease, and strike from just outside the 18 yard box. The effort didnt look enough to trouble Rui Patricio, but he doesnt get enough of him behind the ball and Serbia equalise.
43’ – Dusan Vlahovic is played through on goal by a great through ball from Dusan Tadic and he attempts to chip Rui Patricio, but is denied with short avail after he gets the ball aright after and passes it to an empty net. However, after a very quick review by the referee, it was concluded that he was way offside and the goal was dissaloud. Warning signs for Portugal as they fail to stop these counter attacks from Serbia.
46’ SUBSTITUTION (Aleksander Mitrovic <-> Nemanja Gudelji)
61’ YELLOW CARD – Joao Moutinho
It’s a yellow card for Joao Moutinho, who has an impressive three kicks at Milinkovic-Savic as the Serbian threatens to break away. He’s the second Portuguese player to be cautioned after Joao Cancelo
64’ SUBSTITUTION
(Joao Palhinha <-> João Moutinho)
(Bruno Fernandes <-> Bernardo Silva)
65’ SUBSTITUTION (Uros Spakic <-> Milos Veljkovic)
66’ YELLOW CARD – Strahinja Pavlovic
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.
67’ YELLOW CARD – Renato Sanches
And now Renato Sanches joins Pavlovic in Daniele Orsato’s book. The Portugal goalscorer was cautioned for bringing down Dusan Vlahovic as he threatened to break.
69’ SUBSTITUTION (Nemanja Radonjic <-> Andrija Zikovic)
70’ YELLOW CARD – Nikola Milenkovic
Nikola Milenkovic was 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.
82’ – A Tadic free-kick is flicked behind, and the midfielder will get another chance to test the Portugal defence with a set-piece.
83’ SUBSTITUTION
(Joao Felix <-> Diogo Jota)
(Rúben Neves <-> Renato Sanches)
89’ SUBSTITUTION (Luka Jovic <-> Filip Kostic)
90’ GOAL! Aleksandar Mitrovic
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 worked one final corner short, and curled 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.
90+1’ YELLOW CARD – Aleksandar Mitrovic
He’s in the book for taking his top off in celebrations but he’s not going to care.
90+2’ SUBSTITUTION (Andre Silva <-> Danilo Pereria)
90+5 FULL TIME! SERBIA HAVE BEATEN PORTUGAL IN THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS. Portugal must now win all their knockout games to have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup. Serbia goes through.
