Kolarov puts Serbia on the verge of World Cup qualification

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Aleksandar Kolarov in action with Republic of Ireland’s Cyrus Christie Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Aleksandar Kolarov's second half strike put Serbia on the verge of World Cup qualification and delivered a hammer blow to Group D rivals Ireland's chances in a 1-0 victory at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.

The win puts Serbia four points clear at the top of the group with two games to play - away at Austria and home to Georgia - and relegated Ireland to third place, a point behind a resurgent Wales who they travel to in their final game.

Serbia, who like both Ireland and Wales went into the game with an unbeaten record, had the better early chances and deservedly took the lead on 55 minutes when Kolarov hammered a shot in off the bar to silence the home crowd.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

They had to play the final quarter with 10 men after Nikola Maksimovic was sent off for a professional foul, and survived a justifiable penalty claim and a near miss from Daryl Murphy to leave Ireland's hopes of a playoff place hanging by a thread.

(The story refiles to fix typo in Kolarov in headline, no change to story.)

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates after the match REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Alison Williams)

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Aleksandar Kolarov in action with Republic of Ireland’s Robbie Brady REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Luka Milivojevic in action with Republic of Ireland’s James McClean REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Aleksandar Kolarov in action with Republic of Ireland’s Robbie Brady Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Republic of Ireland’s Ciaran Clark in action with Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Republic of Ireland’s Shane Duffy in action with Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Serbia’s Luka Milivojevic in action with Republic of Ireland’s Daryl Murphy Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Republic of Ireland vs Serbia - Dublin, Ireland - September 5, 2017 Republic of Ireland’s Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark look dejected at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs