Heartache for NI Under-21s as clinical finishing by Serbia the difference in Euro qualifier

Northern Ireland 1 Serbia 2

Tommy Fogarty is challenged by Serbia’s Mitar Ergelaš

Ciaran McGuckin was on target for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s Charlie Allen with Serbia’s Vladimir Lučić

Northern Ireland under-21 boss Tommy Wright

Heartbreak and disappointment were written all over the faces of Northern Ireland’s Under-21 team as they trudged off the pitch at Mourneview Park.

They had every reason to feel such emotions.

A 2-1 defeat at the hands of Serbia was cruel on Tommy Wright’s team, who were slick on the ball and intense without it.

In the end, however, it was Serbia’s clinical finishing, with a superb 15th minute opener from Vladimir Lucic and Milos Pantovic’s late winner, combined with Northern Ireland’s failure to turn some neat football and encouraging individual performances into chances that made the difference.

Northern Ireland had been industrious and adventurous early on, sharp on the ball and pacey in breaking forward, mainly through captain Carl Johnston and Charlie Allen on the right and Terry Devlin in midfield as they looked to supply striking pair JJ McKeirnan and Ciaran McGuckin.

After showing all of that attacking intent, albeit without being able to penetrate a strong Serbian defence, the opening goal came as something of a sucker punch when it arrived 15 minutes in, coming just as Northern Ireland looked like mounting an attack.

Sean Stewart was about to break down the left wing when under little pressure his attempted pass out went straight to Vladimir Lucic 30 yards from goal, the Serb captain drove down the left, cut inside past the challenge of Jamie McDonnell and smashed his shot just inside Stephen McMullan’s left-hand post.

With a shot of confidence from taking the lead Serbia