Serbia secures a ticket to the 2022 World Cup finals after beating Portugal 2-1 at the Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Monday (15/11).
This victory makes Serbia come out as winners of Group A 2022 World Cup Qualifiers thanks to a collection of 20 points. On the other hand, Portugal who finished second had to go through the playoffs to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Portugal managed to take the lead 1-0 when the game was running for nine minutes. Renato Sanches broke into Serbia’s goal through a hard shot from inside the penalty box.
Serbia had a chance to equalize just three minutes later. However, Dusan Vlahovic’s shot from inside the penalty box still hit the right post of the Portugal goal.
The pressure that Serbia continues to do only bears results entering the middle of the first half. The goal that made the score 1-1 was scored by the team captain, Dusan Tadic in the 33rd minute.
Tadic’s shot just outside the penalty area which hit one of the Portuguese players made goalkeeper Rui Patricio incorrectly guess the direction of the ball which then went into the goal.
In the second half, Portugal played patiently because they only needed a draw to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Meanwhile, Serbia tried to be more aggressive by including striker Aleksandar Mitrovic because they needed three points.
Portugal, who played in front of the public, had a chance to win again in this match in the 61st minute. Sanches fired a shot from outside the penalty box which could still be secured by Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
Serbia responded with a chance that Vlahovic got in the 77th minute. The Fiorentina forward fired a shot that was aimed at goal inside the penalty area but still hit the Portuguese player.
Serbia got another golden opportunity to take the lead in this match in the 83rd minute. However, Mitrovic’s header from a cross was still on the right side of Rui Patricio’s goal.
Portugal, who are close to holding onto a ticket to the 2022 World Cup, conceded a minute before second-half injury time. Mitrovic’s header to the near post after using Tadic’s cross tore the opponent’s goal to make it 2-1.
