Serbia win Nations League promotion

Serbia were promoted to the higher league after they beat Lithuania 4-1 to top Group 4 of League C of the UEFA Nations League.

The final match in the group stage of the Nations League on Tuesday started here at the Partizan Stadium in heavy rain, where group leader Serbia welcomed the bottom-ranked team in the group, reports Xinhua news agency.

Serbia made the first dangerous attack in the match in the 26th minute when Milan Rodic managed to send the ball to Sasa Lukic some 15 metres from the goal. Lukic placed a shot directly into the hands of the Lithuanian keeper Ernestas Setku.

In the 32nd minute the visitors attempted a strike on goal through Justinas Janusevskis, but Predrag Rajkovic deflected the ball onto the crossbar, maintaining the 0-0 scoreline until halftime.

Serbia gained the lead in the 51st minute after Lithuania's Arturas Zulpa sent the ball into his own net. Seven minutes later Andrija Zivkovic made a precise assist for Aleksandar Mitrovic who out-jumped the defence and headed in to double the lead.

However, Lithuania woke up late in the match. In the 64th minute Fiodor Cernych managed to beat the defence and sent a pass into the box, which was picked up by Deimantas Petravicius and smashed into the net to make it 2-1.

The home team sealed the victory in the 71st minute after Aleksandar Prijovic made use of Zivkovic's precise assist, and again in 74th minute when Prijovic assisted Ljajic, who finished with a neat lob over the Lithuanian keeper.

After this match, Serbia has 14 points at the top of League C Group 4, while Romania is the runner-up with 12 points. They are followed by Montenegro with seven and Lithuania with zero points.

--IANS

gau/bg