Portugal vs Serbia LIVE Score and Commentary, FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

FULL TIME: PORTUGAL 1-2 SERBIA (Sanches; Tadic, Mitrovic)

SERBIA ARE INTO THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2022!
PORTUGAL TO PLAY IN PLAY-OFFS

It is one historic night in Lisbon as Serbia beat Portugal for the first time in history and advance to the World Cup finals in Qatar. Dragan Stojković's side came back from behind to script a footballing fairytale. The wait continues for Portugal as they will now have to deal with the dreaded knock-out play-offs in order to advance to the World Cup. Terrific contest.

Portugal went ahead through Renato Sanches right at the start of the game before Serbia took total control of the proceedings. Dusan Tadic equalised before halftime to make it 1-1 at the break. It looked like the hosts will scrape through with one point and make it to the World Cup finals but substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic had other ideas. He scored in the final moments in the game to take Serbia to the World Cup finals instead at the expense of Portugal.

Portugal will now feature in the play-off knockouts to fight for a place in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar.

Thanks for joining in on Sportskeeda's LIVE coverage of the game. This is your host, Sayak Dipta Dey signing off for tonight. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for all the post-match analysis and reactions!

Good Night!

90' GOAAAAAAAAAAAL! Aleksandar Mitrovic scores. (Serbia)

The super substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic plants powerful finish down into the turf and up beyond Rui Patrício at the far post from a Tadić cross from the right. That could well see Serbia win the group and qualify automatically for the World Cup finals at the expense of Portugal. Serbia are up 2-1! Stunned silence in Lisbon.

90' Additional Time: 4 MInutes.

89' Substitution for Serbia: Luka Jovic replaces Filip Kostic.

86' Portugal are now happy sitting back with all of their team behind the ball as a draw will be enough to take them to the World Cup in Qatar. Serbia are completely inside the Portugal half in search of the winning goal. The visitors are in danger of conceding on counter attack.

84' Substitution for Portugal: Ruben Neves replaces Renato Sanches.

83' Substitution for Portugal: Joao Felix replaces Diogo Jota.

81' CLOSE! Mitrovic connects to a swirling cross from the left and heads it wide of the goal. Portugal survive a late scare.

81' Tadic delivers in a swirling free-kick from the left but Ruban Dias heads it to safety after Cancelo brought down Vlahovic for the initial foul.

80' Tadic takes Serbia's tenth corner of the evening and Rui Patrício claims confidently.

76' Palhinha's introduction as worked well, as Portugal are now recovering the ball higher up the pitch. That's allowing the hosts longer breaks from Serbia pressure.

70' Milenković is booked for a foul on Diogo Jota.

69' Substitution for Serbia: Nemanja Radonjic replaces Andrija Zivkovic.

67' Renato Sanches is penalised for a foul on Vlahović. Tadic delivers the resultant free-kick into the Portugal box but the hosts clear their lines.

66' Strahinja Pavlović booked for bringing down João Palhinha

65' Substitution for Serbia: Uroš Spajić replaces Miloš Veljković.

64' Substitution for Portugal: Bruno Fernandes replaces Bernardo Silva.

64' Substitution for Portugal: João Palhinha replaces João Moutinho

61' João Moutinho is booked for a foul on S. Milinković-Savic.

58' CLOSE! Portugal caught napping down the left side as Filip Kostić's cross almost finds Dušan Tadić but the goal scorer's run is slightly delayed and the chance goes abegging.

52' Renato Sanches races past his marker on the break as Portugal beat the Serbian press. The goal scorer tries to get around goalkeeper Predrag Rajković but scuffs the final shot. Nikola Milenković's clearance is straight into the crowd of Serbian press and the ricochet almost rolls into the Serbian goal in a comical fashion. Portugal get a corner out of the situation but the delivery is straight to Rajkovic.

49' Portugal resorting to patient play in the opening minutes in the second-half. They are playing only in their own half with short passes among themselves.

46' Second-half kicks-off.

Substitution at half time (Serbia): Aleksandar Mitrović replaces Nemanja Gudelj

HALF TIME: Portugal 1-1 Serbia

Portugal went ahead early in the first half with a Renato Sanches finish before Serbia took control of the game for most parts. They hit the post and kept on testing the defence of the home side with constant shots at goal. The visitors eventually restored parity with a strike from Dusan Tadic courtesy of an error at goal by Rui Patricio.

All to play for in the second half as the fate of World Cup qualification hangs on for both the teams in the next 45 minutes. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda!

Additional Time: 1 Minute.

43' Dušan Vlahović finds the back of the Portugal net after he rounds up Rui Patricio for the goal and slots it home, but he is flagged offside for an early run.

41' MISS! Danilo heads it wide from a Bernardo Silva cross. Quick transitional play from Portugal to beat the Serbian high line. Terrific game of football, this. Joao Moutinho had a shot hit the hands of a Serbian defender before the cross in but the referee let play on unintentional grounds.

38' The resultant corner is collected by Patricio at Portugal goal.

37' João Moutinho is penalised for a foul on Tadić yet again on the right side of the pitch. The goal-scorer swings in the ball into the danger area and Danilo's final header clears the ball away for a Serbia corner.

35' João Cancelo is penalised for a foul on S. Milinković-Savić. Serbia have a free-kick opportunity from a long distance. It is Tadic again with the shot on goal from distance, but this time Rui Patricio collects the ball with no fumble.

33' GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Dusan Tadic (Serbia)

Dusan Tadic fires a shot straight to Rui Patricio at goal but the Portuguese goalkeeper fails to collect it with his hands and the ball bobbles off his chest into the Portugal goal as the Serbians restore parity for 1-1. Massive error from Patricio.

31' Milenković misses the target. A low shot wide of Rui Patrício's right-hand post. Serbia come back again with a quick move down the left side but Patricio saves.

27' Cristiano Ronaldo goes wide and finds Bernardo Silva with the cross but the Manchester City winger is out of position and does not manage to sort his feet out and Serbia recover.

24' Serbia reacting very well to going behind. They are forcing Portugal to defend close to their own penalty area. Tadić and Milinković-Savić are key to the Serbian game plan in the middle areas.

21' Serbia get a corner from the left side, the corner is headed away to safety by the home side but not for long. The visitors get a second bite on the cherry but the resultant cross is too close to Rui Patricio and the hosts are back with the ball after a persistent Serbian pressure comes to a timely end.

19' Portugal are starting to take control of the game and passing it among themselves in their own half after a period of Serbian urgency which caused problems to the Portugal defenders. The Lisbon crowd are loud and proud.

15' Ronaldo goes for goal from the free-kick and misses the target. The ball takes a timely leap but the dip was delayed and it sails over the Serbian goal. Portugal lead 1-0 after 15 minutes of play.

14' Nemanja Gudelj is booked for a challenge. Portugal have a set-piece opportunity right outside the Serbia box. This is a Cristiano Ronaldo territory. Nikola Milenković is also booked for arguing with the referee.

12' SERBIA HIT THE POST! This is a game of swinging pendulums. Serbia come close to scoring with Dušan Vlahović hitting the right side of the goal post from inside the Portugal box with a thunderous strike. Rui Patricio was rooted to the spot and could not have done anything to stop the shot had it been on target.

10' Portugal try to hit back on the counter as it is the same old pair of Cristiano Ronaldo and Renato Sanches pulling all the strings for the hosts upfront. The Manchester United striker plays out Renato Sanches but his first touch is disappointing and he takes the ball away from the goal and eventually tries to win a foul through simulation. Warning to the goal-scorer.

8' João Cancelo is penalised for a foul on Pavlović. The resultant free-kick is delivered into the Serbian box but Milenković s penalised for a foul on Rúben Dias while going up for the header.

5' It is Portugal all over Serbia in the early minutes. Renato Sanches is wrecking havoc down the right side with support from Cristiano Ronaldo as yet another cross comes inside the Serbian box but Nikola Milenkovic clears the looming danger away for the time being.

2' GOAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Renato Sanches (Portugal)

Nemanja Gudelj is caught on possession outside his own box and Renato Sanches latches on to the loose ball and has acres of space and all the time in the world to find the goal. He blasts it past a hapless Serbian goalkeeper at goal as fans in Lisbon go mental! The hosts lead 1-0.

The goal is checked for a possible foul on Gudelj but the goal stands after the VAR check.

1' KICK-OFF!

Portugal Substitutes: José Sá (GK), Diogo Costa (GK), Nélson Semedo, Diogo Dalot, André Silva, Bruno Fernandes, William Carvalho, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Guedes, Rúben Neves, João Palhinha, João Félix

Serbia Substitutes: Marko Dmitrović (GK), Vanja MilinkovićSavić (GK), Filip Mladenović, Aleksa Terzić, Nemanja Maksimovic, Nemanja Radonjić, Aleksandar Mitrović, Luka Jović, Stefan Mitrović, Uroš Spajić, Uroš Račic, Marko Grujić

Portugal Starting XI: Rui Patricio (GK), Joao Cancelo, Jose Fonte, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Renato Sanches, Danilo, Joao Moutinho, Bernardo Silva, Cristinano Ronaldo (C), Digo Jota.

Serbia Starting XI: PPredrag Rajković (GK), Strahinja Pavlović, Nikola Milenković, Nemanja Gudelj (C), Dušan Tadić, Andrija Živković, Saša Lukić, Filip Kostić, Dušan Vlahovic, Sergej MilinkovićSavić, Miloš Veljković

How remembers what happened the last time Cristiano Ronaldo faced Serbia...

Portugal, and the referee, will be hoping for less controversy tonight.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/rWi41KdaN4
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) November 14, 2021

Predicted Starting XIs

Portugal: Rui Patricio; Joao Cancelo, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes; Joao Moutinho, Joao Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota

Serbia: Predrag Rajkovic; Stefan Mitrovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic; Filip Kostic, Nemanja Gudelj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Nemanja Radonjic; Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic

Team News

Portugal: Portugal will be without the trio of Anthony Lopes, Rafa Silva and Joao Mario, who have been sidelined through injuries. Bernardo Silva is expected to play this game after missing Portugal's last game.

Serbia: Matija Nastasic, Marko Petkovic, Filip Djuricic and Darko Lazovic have withdrawn from the squad due to their respective injuries. However, there are no fresh injury concerns for the Serbs.

Portugal vs Serbia Head-To-Head

Portugal have been utterly dominant in the history of this fixture and are unbeaten in each of the last seven meetings against Serbia. The Portuguese have claimed three wins in that time, while four games have ended all square.

Portugal Form Guide: D-W-W-W-W
Serbia Form Guide: W-W-W-D-W

Portugal vs Serbia LIVE Score and Commentary, FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

FT: Portugal 1-2 Serbia