Penalty, as Walters clips Kostic’s heels as the pair run on to a Mladenovic pass. Tadic drills home his ninth global goal from the spot-kick and Serbia lead.
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Ireland made the flawless start, going ahead in the third minute after Hendrick’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Serbia skipper Branislav Ivanovic and nestled in the back of the net.
But Serbia were always unsafe on the counter and keeper Darren Randolph kept them at bay until the 62nd minute, when Filip Kostic was left unmarked at the far post to tap in Dusan Tadic’s cross.
Then it was Serbia who saw a chance go begging when Aleksandar Mitrovic could not get the ball out from his feet after Randolph only half-cleared a cross from the right. That may have deflected off Branislav Ivanovic, but if not, that is Hendrick’s first goal in his 27th appearance.
James McClean then headed over the crossbar before Rajkovic parried a Long attempt out for a corner, but the ensuing dead ball was whipped in by Brady and clinically headed in by the unmarked Murphy to send Ireland home relieved to have salvaged a point from a game that looked to be slipping away from them.
Tadic showed no nerves in converting it. The visitors rode their luck a few times and might and really should have been put away while already 2-1 down when a Randolph error as he sought to save from Filip Mladenovic was comfortably eclipsed by Andrija Pavlovic who hit the bar from close range when presented with an open goal.
The hosts were made to rue their missed opportunity in the 80th minute, as substitute Murphy headed home Brady’s excellent corner, having been given far too much space in the box.
However, the pressure finally told on 62 minutes.
Martin O’Neill’s side took an early lead at the all-but-deserted Red Star Stadium, with just 10,000 of the 53,000 seats filled as some home supporters boycotted the game and many more were put off by the sleeting rain in the Serbian capital. “It’s a great point this early on in the competition”.
Among his highlights was the follow up to a free eight minutes before the break when Walters, again, almost turned his ball home but Rajkovic saved well and the Serbs broke, dangerously it seemed until the midfielder found an extra yard of pace to nip in front of Tadic then turn and get Ireland moving forward once more.
“Some of the younger players are coming in here and are very fine players who are going to get fitter as the season goes on”, said O’Neill.
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Did Ireland get lucky by getting to play Serbia first? . “It was a team effort; it really was”.
