Pure joy for Serbia! (©Gallo Images)
Pure joy for Serbia! (©Gallo Images)

Serbian Sensation! Mitrogol scores 90th-minute winner to spoil Ronaldo's chances of making Qatar

Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 15.11.21. | 00:49

The Serbian Eagles come from behind to win 2-1 and qualify at Portugal's expense

Serbia shone in Lisbon! Portugal only needed a point in their top-of-the-table qualifying showdown against Serbia in Lisbon to secure a place in Qatar. And despite taking a second-minute lead, Ronaldo, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes and other big stars were made to suffer by a brave Serbian team and the awesome Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Renato Sanches' early opener looked like it was going to settle the match against Dusan Vlahovic-led Serbia, but the match panned out very differently. The visitors applied a lot of pressure on the much-fancied hosts and made them defend for long periods of the game.

The Serbian team, that draw with Portugal in an utterly bonkers reverse fixture earlier in the competition, fought hard and got the deserved goal after half an hour of attacking when Dusan Tadic's shot crept over the line. We were back at square one, but it was still the hosts who had the upper hand – they were happy with a point.

Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic brought on two more strikers in a brave drive to find another goal that would send his nation to Qatar and condemn Portugal to the play-offs. Fulham hitman Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench and proved the match-winner for the never-say-die Eagles of Serbia.

Just when Ronaldo and buddies thought that they were home and dry, Mitrovic scored a 90th-minute header to send his nation to the upcoming World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears at the final whistle but it's not over yet for his team. They will have a chance to qualify of the finals through play-offs. As for Serbia, Mitrovic, Vlahovic, Tadic, Milinkovic-Savic, Jovic, Kostic and friends can start to celebrate already!


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FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup QualifiersSerbiaPortugalAleksandar Mitrovic

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