Jeff Hendrick fired Ireland into a third-minute lead, but Filip Kostic’s equaliser and Dusan Tadic’s penalty looked to have won the day until Murphy struck, like Hendrick, with the first goal of his senior global career.
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Filip Kostic deservedly drew Serbia level just after the hour and then won a penalty, which Dusan Tadic duly converted and looked as though it would be the victor.
Obviously a big moment for both Murphy and the Ireland squad but a special celebration for the Newcastle striker, his first global goal in 23 attempts (10 starts and 13 sub appearances).
But Murphy grasped a positive conclusion to a potentially damaging evening to send his side into their home clash with Georgia and Moldova away next month with something to build upon, if with questions to be answered.
Since Montenegro declared independence in 2006, Ireland have only played Serbia three times, all in friendlies.
Martin O’Neill’s first defeat as Ireland manager came at the hands of Serbia in Dublin.
O’Neill added that Murphy’s goal was “great”, and is impressed with his fitness given the question marks over his ability to play worldwide football at his age. But his third minute strike, his first for Ireland in his 27th appearance, may open the floodgates. Subs. Quinn 7, Murphy 8, Clark N/A.
After unsuccessful performance in qualifying, Serbia held a series of friendly matches, which lost to the Czech Republic 4: 1 Poland 1: 0, and also defeated Estonia 0: 1 Cyprus 2: 1, Israel 3: 1 and shared the points with Russian Federation 1:1. Hendrick drills home from the edge of the area after Mitrovic is unable to convincingly clear O’Shea’s cross from the right following Brady’s free-kick. However, the first goal came early in the second half, and from the visitors. Randolph is normally solid under the high ball, but his calmness was tested to the extreme on a night when Serbia fired the ball in at all heights and from all angles. The Serbs targetted Ireland’s left-hand side with Antonio Rukavina pushing up hard against the Burnley full-back, but he repelled everything that was thrown at him and was unlucky to be the man sacrificed for Stephen Quinn at 2-1. Kostic nets from close range following Tadic’s turn and hook around O’Shea.
Southampton’s Dusan Tadic converted the resulting spot-kick to put the hosts 2-1 up. Minutes later, Kostic would pop up again, this time seemingly diving to win a penalty under pressure from Jonathan Walters. Pavlovic is in to run in to Randolph’s spill, but he raps the crossbar from 10 yards out.
In a topsy-turvy contest, the Irish drew 2-2 with Serbia.
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O’Neill has already shown that he will not hesitate to reward young, hungry players after promoting Celtic’s Michael Duffy for last night’s opening World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic, before he was forced to withdraw through injury.
