Armenia 1-1 Serbia

Robert Arzumanyan’s 73rd-minute header was cancelled out by Zoran Tošić just before the end after an Armenia penalty was saved.

Zoran Tošić struck in the last minute to deny Armenia a UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group I win, aided by Vladimir Stojković’s penalty save for Serbia after the home side had gone ahead.

Serbia, starting their campaign in the sole five-team section, had the better of the early exchanges. However, they did not go close until the 28th minute, Roman Berezovski tipping over a long-range drive from Zdravko Kuzmanović, an early substitute for Lazar Marković. The resulting corner was headed into the ground and over by Branislav Ivanović.

At the other end Stojković turned Marcos Pizzelli’s effort around the post. Armenia certainly improved later in the half and also pressed early in the second period, Artur Sarkisov nodding a Pizzelli corner wide.

Still, Serbia were edging play and certainly possession, but with 17 minutes left Armenia made the breakthrough. Robert Arzumanyan dived to head in Taron Voskanyan’s cross after another Pizzelli corner was only half-cleared.

Now the task was to defend the lead, the hosts having gone ahead in the second half in Denmark last month in their group opener only to lose 2-1. They did not just sit on the advantage, Varazdat Haroyanforcing a Stojković save on the counter.

It looked like being two when Sarkisov was brought down by Stefan Mitrović in the Serbia box but Stojković kept out Pizzelli’s penalty and the rebound was put wide. And in the last minute Serbia made the most of their let-off, Tošić striking with a looping shot from the edge of the area.

Armenia: Berezovski, – K. Hovhannisyan, Haroyan, Arzumanyan, Voskanyan, Hayrapetyan – Mkrtchyan (R. Hovsepyan 53. min), Edigaryan, Pizzelli (Karapetian 85. min) – Sarkisov, Manucharyan (Dashyan 67. min).

Headcoach: Bernard Challandes

Srbija: Stojković – Ivanović, St. Mitrović, Nastasić, Kolarov – Nem. Gudelj (Aleksandar Mitrović 74.min), Nem. Matić – Zor. Tošić, Duš. Tadić, Laz. Marković (Z. Kuzmanović 27. min) – Fil. Đorđević (Danko Lazović 71. min).

Headcoach: Dick Advokaat