Late Mitrovic header sees Serbians leapfrog Portugal to Qatar 2022

Serbia have qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s dramatic late header stunned Portugal in a 2-1 win over the 2016 European champions at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.

Portugal only needed a draw to qualify and started really well: taking the lead with two minutes played when Bernardo Silva recovered the ball on the edge of the Serbian area and fed Renato Sanches, who slotted home.

The hosts from that point handed the initiative back to the Serbs which proved to be a bad mistake, the visitors wresting control of the contest after Portugal's early goal.

After already striking the inside of the post, the Serbs got their fully deserved equaliser through Dusan Tadic whose shot took a deflection off Danilo, squirmed through Rui Patricio's hands and over the line.

In the second-half, Serbia kept the pressure on Portugal and reaped their late reward when prolific Fulham striker Mitrovic snuck in at the far post to nod in Tadic’s lethal cross in the 90th minute, prompting wild celebrations on the bench and on the pitch from the Serbians.

The result means Serbia leapfrog Portugal to finish top of Group A on 20 points. Portugal stay on 17 points and have to settle for a place in the play-offs which will take place in March next year.

🦸‍♂️ Aleksandar Mitrovic rises from the bench and scores his 33rd goal in his last 35 internationals to snatch Serbia a ticket to the #WorldCup ✈️

🤩 'Mitro' has been absolutely sensational for his country 🇷🇸@FSSrbije | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/G9X8AJCuGp

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 14, 2021