As Nikola Mirenkovic's oolong ball cancelled Sergei Milinkovic's opener against Savage, the Republic of Ireland won in consecutive World Cup qualifier draws; Gavin Bazunu's outstanding goalkeeping performance prevented Serbia from regaining the top spot in Group A
The Republic of Ireland performed well in the second half, ensuring a morale boost in the 1-1 win over Serbia in world cup qualifiers at the Aviva Stadium.
Three days after an embarrassing loss to Azerbaijan, Ireland found itself in need of another comeback in Dublin when Sergei Milinkovic-Savic's brilliant near-post header gave Serbia the lead halfway through the first half.
Serbia scored a goal for Ireland after Portugal's victory in Azerbaijan to seek the two-goal win needed to restore them to Group A leaders, but found 19-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu inspired as he made a series of saves to keep Ireland's hope alive to save something from the game.
And, with four minutes left, when Milinkovic Savic's desperate goal line was unblocked by teammate Nikola Milenkovic into the Serbian net, they saved a bit, sparking a frenzied celebration in the raucous Irish crowd.
Stephen Kenny's first match victory awaiting him at the helm of Ireland has now been played in 12 games, and the Republic has now collected a total of 3 points in 16 attempts in June 2019, but despite this, their combat performance will feel like more than one point doesn't help much with their World Cup qualification hopes.
Ireland counter-attacked a fierce draw
Serbia's Aleksandr Mitrovic fought with Andrew Omoba Midler of the Republic of Ireland for possession
Serbian coach Dragan Stojkovic has made his intentions clear from the moment he submits the squad's roster, which includes Aleksandr Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahović at the front, backed by Dusan Tadić and wingers Philip Kostic and Philip Juric Jurić.
Although Bazunu saved his captain by blocking Vlahović's attempts, the visiting team was forced to take two early corners in the first five minutes due to Shane Duffy's loss of control and nearly scored the opening goal.
Barzunu had to hit the ball from a distance in the 14th minute after Duffy cleared the latest in a series of high balls, but shortly after getting time and space in midfield, the goalkeeper underwent further tests of the same man. Way in place.
Serbia took the lead in the 20th minute when Milinkovic Savic crossed his mark on the near post and glanced at Tadic's corner kick past Bazounu, even though the "goalkeeper" reached out to catch the ball.
After Jamie McGrath's advances were illegally blocked by Djurić, Predra Rajkovic breathed a sigh of relief, claiming that Jeff Hendrick's 26-minute free-kick was barely a big surprise. Adam Ida was warned, perhaps sternly, as he tried to beat defender Strasinja Pavlovic into a provocative cross from James McLean in response in Ireland.
Bazunu beat Mitrovic's good ball in the 39th minute from Vlahovic's skilful stop-off and then handled the resulting corner, but Serbia's movement and intricate passing match repeatedly exposed holes in the home defence.
Ireland left singles striker Ida painfully out of support for much of the first half, with Ireland trying to make up for it at the start of the second half, although Alan Brown failed to direct McLean's 49th-minute cross in an encouraging start.
After a happy combination of Tadić and Djurić, Bazunu had to repel Mitrovic's shot in the 57th minute. Three minutes later, after receiving a cross from Kostic, he made a better stop and rejected the Fulham striker.
The teenager lost his sense of direction 13 minutes after the game started and needed McLean's help, with two saves by substitutes Nemanja Radongic and Kostic saving him once again, and his heroic deeds paid off in his death.
John Egan and Shane Duffy of the Republic of Ireland celebrate Nicolas Mirenkovic's oolong ball in Serbia
As he struggled to clear the cross from substitute Callum Robinson, Milinkovic Savage slammed the ball into Mirenkovic and watched in horror as the ball bounced into his net, triggering a late home onslaught that ultimately failed to produce a winner.
The Republic of Ireland has not won in all of its last 16 matches, 12 of which have been since Stephen Kenny succeeded Mick McCarthy as head coach last September.
Serbia are now unbeaten in their last 11 Euro/World Cup qualifiers, trailing Portugal by just two points after five games they seek qatar.
The Republic of Ireland's last five home goals in athletic matches all occurred in the 85th minute or later, while Serbia's oolong ball tonight occurred in the 86th minute.
Sergei Milinkovic-Savic has scored four goals for Serbia in his last eight games, while not scoring in his first 16 games.
Dusan Tadic's corner kick in Sergei Milinkovic-Savage's opening match was his fifth assist in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the most of any European player to date.
Republic of Ireland head coach Stephen Kenny: "Even though it was our third game in six days, he showed great spirits, played a lot of good football and got a break that he didn't have earlier this week, when we could have had at least six points in four games to get into this game.
"We actually lost to Portugal in the 97th minute, so I think the players gave everything tonight – just like they did in all the games. They have given everything they have.
"We lost only one of our six games, and that game against Portugal took 97 minutes. If we had played portugal the other day, it would have been six unbeaten games. We just have to turn a draw into a win, we already have too many draws.
"We made their debut in six months by bleeding 13 players. It's always an upward curve and we'll see the benefits for a lot of them in the next year.
"You've seen players that people have never heard of come in and they now know some of them. And there are more players. ”
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" > the person who competed - Gavin Bazunu</h1>
Despite conceding goals in all three games, Gavin Bazunu saved 22 shots in three games in the Republic of Ireland last week, including 10 against Serbia in this match (5 against Portugal and 3 against Azerbaijan).