SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 5 hrs 25 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
SN
World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage
Mar 24, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Stadion Rajko Mitić
RO

Serbia
3 - 2
Rep. Ireland

Vlahovic (40'), Mitrovic (69', 75')
Pavlovic (89')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Browne (18'), Collins (86')

Stephen Kenny: 'We deserved a penalty against Serbia'

:Headline: Stephen Kenny: 'We deserved a penalty against Serbia': ID:440588: from db_amp
Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench to condemn the visitors to a 3-2 World Cup qualifying loss.

Stephen Kenny left Serbia convinced the Republic of Ireland would not have lost their opening World Cup qualifier had they been awarded the penalty they deserved.

Kenny's men took a surprise lead in the Group A fixture at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade when Alan Browne ended their wait for a goal after 11 hours and 18 minutes of football, but ultimately ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

However, there were devastated not to be awarded a second-half spot-kick when striker Aaron Connolly went down under Stefan Mitrovic's challenge at 1-1, only for Italian referee Davide Massa to wave away his claims.

Aaron Connolly was denied a penalty by referee Davide Massa in the Republic of Ireland's 3-2 defeat to Serbia (Novak Djurovic/PA)

Manager Kenny, whose wait for a first victory now stretches to nine games, said: "We've had a blatant penalty rejected, absolutely. We've watched it back and Aaron has touched the ball away and Mitrovic, the centre-back, has fouled him.

"That's a penalty go to 2-1 up and we're not losing the game at 2-1 up in the second half, that's for sure. We're not saying we definitely would have won it, but I don't see us losing it.

"That's a very pivotal moment in the game."

Browne's 18th-minute header from Callum Robinson's inviting cross handed Ireland the perfect start, but Dusan Vlahovic levelled before the break before substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was Serbia's two-goal hero in their defeat of the Republic in Belgrade (Novak Djurovic/PA)

Mitrovic had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he beat 21-year-old keeper Mark Travers, making his competitive debut for his country, with an audacious chip, and then headed his side into a 3-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining, in the process establishing himself as Serbia's joint-record international goalscorer on 38.

Fellow substitute James Collins reduced the deficit four minutes from time, but a late flurry of activity failed to produce an equaliser.

Kenny said: "The concession of the second goal is a disappointing goal, we know that and then the third goal, we're wondering how we're 3-1 down.

"I felt all of the substitutes made an impact – James Collins got the goal back and it's a late rally for the equaliser, which we don't quite get.

"We're disappointed to lose the game, really, and it hurts. Serbia are a very good team with a lot of very good attacking players, but we feel disappointed to lose."

amp_article__440588 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-24 23:54:09:
html db last update - 2021-03-25 01:38:59 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Stephen Kenny

Click here for more stories about Serbia

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .