NI narrowly defeated by Serbia

The province carved out a number of good chances against the World Cup finalists but lacked a cutting edge.

Danko Lazovic scored the vital goal in the 57th minute after a clever dummy from Gojko Kacar following a cross from Zoran Tosic.

Northern Ireland were keen to finish the year with a victory after losing their last match at home to Slovakia.

They made a bright start and Lafferty whipped the ball in from the right after four minutes.

Feeney was quick to react but goalkeeper Bojan Isailovic made the interception and took a whack in the process.

Serbia responded and Zdravko Kuzmanovic tested Maik Taylor in the ninth minute, the Birmingham goalkeeper doing well to tip his effort over the bar.

Northern Ireland almost took the lead five minutes later when Niall McGinn cut inside and tried his luck on goal.

The Celtic midfielder's effort was struck firm and true but Isailovic was equal to it.

Lafferty was also troubling Serbia and Vidic in particular with his movement and tried to release Feeney in the 20th minute but the ball was scrambled away.

Serbia were looking dangerous on the counter attack and Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic stung Taylor's fingers in the 27th minute.

Tosic was taking up some good positions on the right flank but George McCartney was keeping a watchful eye on him.

McGinn then tried to make headway only to have his shirt pulled by Radoslav Petrovic in the 34th minute. That earned the FK Partizan midfielder a ticking off from referee Abby Toussaint.

A minute later Chris Baird escaped his marker but sent his header the wrong side of the post.
McGinn got behind the Serbia defence in the 42nd minute.

The pacy winger fired in a shot from an acute angle that un-nerved Aleksander Lukovic.

He nearly scored an own goal and was relieved to see his mistimed clearance go out for a corner.

Serbia then almost took the lead in the 44th minute when Kuzmanovic was clear in front of goal.

However, he failed to test Taylor and blazed his effort high over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Manchester United defender Vidic sat out the second half and was replaced by Neven Subotic.
Vidic's Old Trafford team-mate Jonny Evans did not re-appear either, with Grant McCann coming on.

Northern Ireland should have taken the lead in the 49th minute after good work by McGinn but Brunt slashed his effort wide of the post from close range.

Back came Serbia only for Danko Lazovic to send his shot from distance over the bar.

The visitors took the lead in the 57th minute with a well-crafted goal from Lazovic.

He beat Taylor from the edge of the box after a clever dummy from Gojko Kacar set him up following Tosic's cross.

Northern Ireland looked stunned but there was no denying the quality of a goal that belonged in the World Cup finals.

The province came close to equalising six minutes later only for Isailovic to make a stunning block to keep out Stephen Craigan's header.

Northern Ireland record scorer David Healy had to settle for a place on the bench in this friendly.

Healy, who is on the fringes at Sunderland, has failed to find the target in six matches for the province after 35 goals in 78 games.

He was introduced in the 64th minute, replacing Feeney with Northern Ireland chasing the game.