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Serbia national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Oct 11, 2015 at 5pm UK
 
Portugal national football team

1-2

Tosic (65')
Kolarov (79'), Matic (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Nani (5'), Moutinho (78')

Joao Moutinho stunner sinks nine-man Serbia

Joao Moutinho scores a late winner as Portugal beat nine-man Serbia in their final Euro 2016 qualifier.

Joao Moutinho's spectacular 78th-minute goal has seen Portugal beat Serbia in their final Euro 2016 qualifer.

The Seleccao, who have already secured qualification for next year's finals and top spot in Group I, took the lead after five minutes when Danny's shot was parried by Vladimir Stojkovic into the path of Nani, who tucked the loose ball into the net.

Nani (C) of Portugal celebrates scoring a goal with team mates Miguel Veloso (R) and Danilo (L) during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Serbia and Portugal at the Stadium FC Partizan in Belgrade on October 11, 2015.© Getty Images

Serbia pushed for an instant response, with Aleksandar Mitrovic heading over the bar from Adem Ljajic's cross before Dusan Tadic failed to connect with Nenad Tomovic's delivery into the box.

The hosts, who cannot qualify for Euro 2016, continued to press as Zoran Tosic fired an effort straight at Rui Patricio before the Portugal keeper was called into action again to deny Ljajic

With the interval approaching, the home side thought they had a case for a penalty when Mitrovic went down in the penalty area, but the referee waved away their appeals.

Ricardo Quaresma (R) of Portugal in action against Nemanja Matic (L) of Serbia during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Serbia and Portugal at the Stadium FC Partizan in Belgrade on October 11, 2015. © Getty Images

However, Serbia continued to press after the break and were denied an equalised after Mitrovic finally beat Rui Patricio, only to have his strike chalked off for offside.

The home side's determination paid off on 65 minutes when Tosic netted an equaliser with a drilled finish.

Serbia thought they had scored a second when Tosic broke through the Seleccao defence before finding the back of the net, but the referee had spotted a handball in the build-up.

Instead, substitute Moutinho's strike from the edge of the area found the top corner of the net to restore Portugal's lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Serbia when Aleksandar Kolarov was given a red card moments later before Nemanja Matic was also sent off for a swinging arm on Andre Andre as the hosts finished with nine men and no points.

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Nani (C) of Portugal celebrates scoring a goal with team mates Miguel Veloso (R) and Danilo (L) during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Serbia and Portugal at the Stadium FC Partizan in Belgrade on October 11, 2015.
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