Serbia 3 - 2 Republic of Ireland | 2017 - UEFA Under 21 | 2016138

UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Round | Karadjordje, Novi Sad
06 September 2016 - 18:00

Serbia 3 - 2 Republic of Ireland

Đurđević(12) Lazić(65) Đurđević(72) full-time O'Dowda(69) Maguire(81)
Serbia Republic of Ireland

Ireland U21s go down to Serbia in five-goal thriller

THE Republic of Ireland U21 side were unfortunate to go down to a 3-2 defeat by Serbia in a thrilling UEFA European Championship 2017 Qualifying Round Group 2 encounter in Novi Sad this evening.
u21-srbija-irska-5819.jpg
6th Sep 2016

Noel King's side shook off the concession of an early goal to give last year's U20 World Champions a serious scare thanks to second half goals from Callum O'Dowda and Cork City's Sean Maguire.

Ireland had looked lively early on with Olamide Shodipo cutting in from the left wing in the fourth minute before producing a low strike which lacked venom and is comfortably saved by keeper Vanja Milinković-Savić.

The home side took control in the 12th minute when Mijat Gačinović's flicked header from a left wing cross found Uros Djurdjević in the box and he turned to fire into bottom corner.

Djurdjević had a chance to extend that lead in the 24th minute when he got on the end of an excellent cross-field pass but he volleyed over at the back post.

Ireland soon settled with the midfield three of Josh Cullen, Harry Charsley and Jack Byrne all working tirelessly to gain possession and create opportunities.

A major chance landed for the Irish in the 36th minute when goalkeeper Milinković-Savić spilled the ball from a cross but Charsley could not connect powerfully and a defender cleared off the line.

Four minutes later good work by Byrne and O'Dowda set up a chance for Courtney Duffus but Milinković-Savić saved his strike from the edge of the box.

Serbia threatened again in the 53rd minute when good link play saw Gačinović get in a low strike that Danny Rogers got down well to save.

The home side extended their lead in the 65th minute when Darko Lazić slipped between two Irish defenders to head home from close range after connecting with a Gačinović corner.

Four minutes later Ireland were back in the game when O'Dowda headed home brilliantly from a Kevin O'Connor cross.

Unfortunately for the Irish they had little opportunity to build on that goal as they conceded a 72nd minute goal from a penalty. Djurdjević headed over the advancing Rogers and despite a defender's clearance the referee deemed that the Irish goalkeeper had fouled the striker, who converted from the spot himself.

O'Dowda had a half-chance in the 75th minute when he beat the Serbian keeper to a through ball but he knocked the ball a little too strongly and it ran out of play.

Ireland did bring it back to 3-2 in the 81st minute when Sean Maguire headed home from close range after Jake Mulraney's cross was headed back by Darragh Lenihan.

Despite relentless effort from the Irish they just couldn't level matters. They will finish out the campaign when they host the Serbs at the RSC in Waterford on October 7.

SERBIA: V. Milinković-Savić, Gajić, Antonov, Lazić, Veljković, A. Živković (Čavrić 60), Djurdjević (Radonjić 83), Gačinović, Grujić (Ristić 76), Lukić, S. Milinković-Savić.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Rogers, Lenihan, Rea, Hoban, O'Connor, Charsley, Cullen, Byrne (Dimaio 76), O'Dowda, Duffus (Maguire 72), Shodipo (Mulraney 66)

Tactical Lineups

Serbia

12 Milinković-Savić (G) 2 Gajić 3 Antonov 4 Lazić 5 Veljković 7 Živković 9 Đurđević (C) 10 Gaćinović 16 Grujić 19 Lukić 20 Milinković-Savić

Substitutes

  • 1 Boris Radunović (G)
  • 8 Nemanja Mihajlović
  • 11 Aleksandar Čavrić
  • 14 Vukašin Jovanović
  • 17 Nemanja Radonjić
  • 18 Dejan Meleg
  • 21 Mihailo Ristić

Coach

Tomislav Sivić

Republic of Ireland

1 Rogers (G) 2 Rea 3 O'Connor 5 Hoban (C) 6 Lenihan 7 Charsley 8 Cullen 9 Duffus 10 Byrne 11 O'Dowda 19 Shodipo

Coach

Noel King

Officials

  • Referee Orel Grinfeeld
  • Assistant Referees Roy Hassan
  • UEFA Delegate Andreas Akkelides
  • Assistant Referee Two Idan Yarkoni
  • Fourth Official Gal Leibovitz
  • Referee Observer Jiri Ulrich

Minute by Minute Commentary

  • 1" The match is under way.
  • 4" Olamide Shodipo (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
  • 4" Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia) blocks a shot.
  • 8" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 10" Kevin O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Saša Lukić (Serbia).
  • 12" Uroš Đurđević (Serbia) scores!
  • 12" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) assists.
  • 13" Glen Rea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia).
  • 14" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) takes the free-kick.
  • 14" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) has an effort on goal.
  • 14" Daniel Rogers (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
  • 14" Milan Gajić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Olamide Shodipo (Republic of Ireland).
  • 16" Saša Lukić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Jack Byrne (Republic of Ireland).
  • 18" Kevin O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Saša Lukić (Serbia).
  • 18" Andrija Živković (Serbia) takes the free-kick.
  • 18" Andrija Živković (Serbia) has a shot blocked.
  • 23" Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia) is cautioned by the referee.
  • 23" Darragh Lenihan (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
  • 24" Andrija Živković (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 24" Uroš Đurđević (Serbia) misses the target.
  • 25" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
  • 28" Andrija Živković (Serbia) misses the target.
  • 30" Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia).
  • 31" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 31" Miloš Veljković (Serbia) has a shot blocked.
  • 34" Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland).
  • 36" Marko Grujić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Olamide Shodipo (Republic of Ireland).
  • 36" Jack Byrne (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
  • 37" Henry Charsley (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
  • 37" Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia) blocks a shot.
  • 38" Jack Byrne (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
  • 41" Courtney Duffus (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
  • 41" Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia) blocks a shot.
  • 43" Uroš Đurđević (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Jack Byrne (Republic of Ireland).
  • 44" Milan Gajić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Kevin O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
  • 44" Jack Byrne (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
  • 45+1" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Darragh Lenihan (Republic of Ireland).
  • 45+3" Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Henry Charsley (Republic of Ireland).
  • The referee blows for half-time.
  • 46" The second half begins.
  • 46" Darragh Lenihan (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Nemanja Antonov (Serbia).
  • 50" Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Marko Grujić (Serbia).
  • 51" Nemanja Antonov (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 52" Marko Grujić (Serbia) has an effort on goal.
  • 52" Daniel Rogers (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
  • 53" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) has an effort on goal.
  • 53" Daniel Rogers (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
  • 54" Andrija Živković (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 56" Andrija Živković (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 57" Milan Gajić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Olamide Shodipo (Republic of Ireland).
  • 60" Aleksandar Čavrić (in) - Andrija Živković (out) (@@teamID)
  • 61" Henry Charsley (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
  • 61" Courtney Duffus (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia).
  • 62" Glen Rea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Uroš Đurđević (Serbia).
  • 64" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 65" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) takes the corner.
  • 65" Darko Lazić (Serbia) scores!
  • 65" Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia) assists.
  • 66" Jake Mulraney (in) - Olamide Shodipo (out) (@@teamID)
  • 69" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) scores!
  • 69" Courtney Duffus (Republic of Ireland) assists.
  • 71" Daniel Rogers (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Uroš Đurđević (Serbia).
  • 71" Daniel Rogers (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
  • 72" Uroš Đurđević (Serbia) scores!
  • 72" Seán Maguire (in) - Courtney Duffus (out) (@@teamID)
  • 76" Aleksandar Čavrić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Kevin O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
  • 76" Connor Dimaio (in) - Jack Byrne (out) (@@teamID)
  • 76" Mihailo Ristić (in) - Marko Grujić (out) (@@teamID)
  • 79" Miloš Veljković (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Seán Maguire (Republic of Ireland).
  • 79" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
  • 79" Thomas Hoban (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
  • 80" Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Seán Maguire (Republic of Ireland).
  • 80" Henry Charsley (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
  • 80" Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia) blocks a shot.
  • 81" Seán Maguire (Republic of Ireland) scores!
  • 81" Darragh Lenihan (Republic of Ireland) assists.
  • 83" Nemanja Radonjić (in) - Uroš Đurđević (out) (@@teamID)
  • 85" Darko Lazić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Seán Maguire (Republic of Ireland).
  • 85" Darko Lazić (Serbia) is cautioned by the referee.
  • 85" Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
  • 85" Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
  • 85" Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia) blocks a shot.
  • 86" Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
  • 87" Darragh Lenihan (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
  • 88" Glen Rea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Mijat Gaćinović (Serbia).
  • 88" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Aleksandar Čavrić (Serbia).
  • 89" Nemanja Radonjić (Serbia) misses the target.
  • 90" Jake Mulraney (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
  • 90" Vanja Milinković-Savić (Serbia) blocks a shot.
  • 90+1" Glen Rea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia).
  • 90+1" Thomas Hoban (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
  • 90+1" Mihailo Ristić (Serbia) takes the free-kick.
  • 90+3" Darko Lazić (Serbia) is penalised for a foul on Henry Charsley (Republic of Ireland).
  • 90+3" Thomas Hoban (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Sergej Milinković-Savić (Serbia).
  • The final whistle is blown.

Match Statistics

  • Serbia
  • Republic of Ireland

Corners Won

8 3

Shots on Target

6 8

Shots off Target

3 2

Fouls Committed

14 13
  • Serbia

    Republic of Ireland

  • 3Goals2
  • 2Yellow Card(s)3
  • 0Red Card(s)0
  • 6Shots on Goal8
  • 3Shots Wide2
  • 2Shot(s) Blocked0
  • 6Save(s)3
  • 11Total Shots10
  • 14Fouls Committed13
  • 8Corner(s)3
  • 0Offside(s)1