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Republic of Ireland started their FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-2 defeat in Belgrade as Serbia took the opening three points at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.<\/p>\nRepublic of Ireland started their FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-2 defeat in Belgrade as Serbia took the opening three points at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.<\/p>\n
Stephen Kenny\u2019s side had taken the lead through Alan Browne but Aleksandar Mitrovi\u0107\u2019s brace in the second half was the difference despite a late goal from James Collins.<\/p>\n
Ireland did the early pressing in the opening minutes with a series of corners, Ciaran Clark came closest from those opportunities but his effort went wide. Despite a series of corners from the home side that was sent in by Du\u0161an Tadi\u0107, Ireland defense marshalled by Seamus Coleman held firm to clear any danger.<\/p>\n
Ireland took the lead in the 18th minute when Enda Stevens made a defense-splitting pass to Callum Robinson whose saw his cross met by Alan Browne at the back post. The PNE man did excellently to head the ball past Dmitrovi\u0107 to put Ireland in front.<\/p>\n
Despite ample possession, Serbia was not able to make it count as Ireland continued to defend and break forward and they did so when Callum Robinson sent Enda Stevens through down the right-wing, however, the ball was cut out before Aaron Connolly could capitalize.<\/p>\n
Serbia persistence did pay off as they equalized courtesy of Du\u0161an Vlahovi\u0107 when he was set up by Tadi\u0107. He headed the ball forward into the striker’s path whose first-time effort went past Mark Travers to level terms for the home side.<\/p>\n
Ireland started the second half in earnest with Aaron Connolly going close early on from an Stevens pull-back. Ireland continued their pressure and Connolly latched onto the end of a through-ball where he appeared to be taken down in the area but the referee didn\u2019t deem it a foul, in the 51st minute.<\/p>\n
Ireland continued to press and an opportunity came into the path of Callum Robinson from Alan Browne cross but the danger was cleared. Ireland had a great chance when Matt Doherty sent in an excellent ball into the area, Aaron Connolly left the ball to run but there wasn\u2019t an Irish player to finish off the move.<\/p>\n
Du\u0161an Vlahovi\u0107 went very close after an initial shot on the Ireland goal was going wide of the post but the striker was outstretched to tap it in and narrowly missed.<\/p>\n
Aleksandar Mitrovi\u0107 gave the home side the lead when a clever pass from Tadic set up the striker and spotting Travers off his line he chipped it over the keeper to score.<\/p>\n
Mitrovi\u0107 added a second in the 75th minute when Tadic\u2019s cross into the area was met by the striker with a powerful header.<\/p>\n
Ireland got their second goal of the evening when James Collins scored his first competitive goal when Shane Long forced an error from Stefan Mitrovi\u0107 and Collins applied the finish despite under pressure. Ireland continued to rally in the final stages but couldn’t find the goal their play deserved.<\/p>\n
Ireland faces Luxembourg next as Stephen Kenny\u2019s side look to bounce back in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n