Serbia 2 - 1 Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland just fail to hold out

Northern Ireland's Euro 2012 qualification hopes took a heavy blow in Belgrade as they conceded twice in the second half to surrender a hard-earned lead against Group C rivals Serbia.

Only some brave last-ditch defending stopped them going behind but when Gareth McAuley rose to head home Chris Brunt's cross in the 40th minute, a famous victory looked on the cards.

But Serbia, playing in the near-deserted Crvena Zvezda Stadium as a result of crowd trouble against Italy, hit back through Marko Pantelic before Zoran Tosic drilled in the winner via a slight deflection.

With just four minutes gone Brunt attempted something spectacular, lashing an ambitious looping shot at goal from just inside the Serbia half. It was directed well enough to cause goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic a moment's hesitation but it continued harmlessly over.

Brkic twice flapped at set-pieces in the space of a minute, first Sammy Clingan's curling free-kick then Brunt's corner.

The West Brom man next tried his luck from 20 yards but, after showing good control, his low drive flew wide.

Serbia almost took the lead after 15 minutes, McAuley's last-gasp slide steering what looked a certain goal over the bar.

Milos Krasic was emerging as Serbia's key man, constantly asking questions of the defence, but the odd loose pass hinted at frustration in the home ranks.

An innocuous foul earned Brunt the chance to deliver a free-kick from the right flank five minutes before the interval and he found McAuley eight yards from goal. The Ipswich defender timed his jump well and aimed for the top corner, beating Brkic to send the 265 travelling fans into raptures. Serbia, with no support of their own following the Uefa ruling, were shellshocked and almost conceded again when Brunt played in Kyle Lafferty.

The Rangers forward took a neat touch to create some room but stabbed his shot over the crossbar as Brkic advanced. Lafferty did not emerge for the second half, replaced by Northern Ireland's record scorer David Healy.

Serbia boss Vladimir Petrovic also went to his bench during the interval, with out-of-favour Liverpool forward Milan Jovanovic and Milos Ninkovic entering the fray.

Northern Ireland were close to a second in the 49th minute, Healy and Brunt linking well before Johnny Gorman whipped in a cross from the left. Brunt was waiting in the centre but Neven Subotic deflected the ball wide of the post.

Healy, occasionally a little off the pace, picked up a needless yellow card to rule himself out of Tuesday's clash with Slovenia. Worse was to follow in the 65th minute when Pantelic swept home from eight yards after a flowing move involving Ninkovic and Jovanovic.The Liverpool man almost put the hosts ahead seconds later after finding space in the penalty box but he hesitated to shoot and the chance fell away.

Northern Ireland were now looking in trouble every time Serbia attacked, their swagger finally returning.

The second goal came after 73 minutes, Stankovic charging towards the danger area before laying the ball to Tosic. The CSKA Moscow midfielder took a touch before rifling his shot into the near corner via a slight deflection off Craig Cathcart.

Having taken the lead Serbia eased off a little but Northern Ireland could not take advantage.

Serbia: Brkic, Ivanovic, Subotic, Bisevac, Kolarov, Tosic, Ljajic, Krasic, Stankovic, Milijas, Pantelic. Subs: Saranov, Jovanovic, Petrovic, Obradovic, Ninkovic, Trivunovic, Ilic.

Northern Ireland: Camp, Baird, Hughes, Jonathan Evans, McAuley, Cathcart, Corry Evans, Clingan, Gorman, Brunt, Lafferty. Subs: Tuffey, Craigan, Thompson, McCann, Healy, Feeney, McCourt..

Referee: S Gumienny (Belg)

Attendance: 265