Serbia miss chance to clinch place after defeat in Austria

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Dusan Tadic in action with Austria’s Stefan Ilsanker and Julian Baumgartlinger REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

VIENNA (Reuters) - Serbia missed a chance to clinch their place at the World Cup on Friday when they suffered a shock 3-2 defeat in Group D to already-eliminated Austria, their first loss of the campaign.

Needing a win to qualify for their first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Serbia got the perfect start when Luka Milivojevic gave them an 11th-minute lead.

Austria, whose chances of qualifying had evaporated one hour before kick off when Wales won 1-0 in Georgia, hit back with goals from Guido Burgstaller and Marko Arnautovic before Nemanja Matic equalised for Serbia with seven minutes left.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria’s Louis Schaub celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

But Louis Schaub struck in the 89th minute to give Austria a late victory.

Serbia still lead the group with 18 points and will qualify if they beat Georgia at home on Monday. They are followed by Wales on 17 points and Ireland on 16.

"We are very disappointed but we weren't good enough tonight unlike Austria, who created a lot of chances," said Serbia coach Slavoljub Muslin.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Branislav Ivanovic in action with Austria’s Louis Schaub REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

"We have one more chance to reach Russia and we have to take it against Georgia at home. We can't dwell on what went wrong tonight."

Serbia had two early let-offs before Milivojevic put them ahead with their first attack, lashing a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the area after Maximilian Woeber's headed clearance landed at his feet.

The Serbian fans celebrated by letting off fireworks and a line of heavily armed police was sent in to stand guard in front of the visiting sector.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Nemanja Matic celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Austria levelled with the simplest of goals as Kevin Danso sent a long ball over a square Serbian defence into the path of Burgstaller, who was left with only Vladimir Stojkovic to beat and clipped the ball past the goalkeeper.

Austria took control after halftime, forcing Stojkovic to make a brave block at Arnautovic's feet and a superb save to tip away a Florian Grillitsch drive.

Arnautovic finished off a flowing move to put Austria ahead in the 76th minute, only for Matic to take advantage of hesitant defending and level seven minutes later.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Vladimir Stojkovic punches clear REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Serbia sensed a possible winner - and qualification - but instead were caught out by Schaub's intended cross which bounced into the net after Arnautovic failed to make contact.

Arnautovic, who was born in Austria but has a Serbian father, did not celebrate his goal and told Serbian media afterwards he would support them against Georgia.

"I will be with Serbia on Monday. They are playing at home in front of a full house and I believe we will qualify for the World Cup," he said.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria’s Florian Kainz shoots at goal REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Dusan Tadic in action with Austria’s Maximilian Wober and Aleksandar Dragovic REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

(Writing by Brian Homewood; additional reporting by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria coach Marcel Koller REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria’s Marko Arnautovic celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

REFILE - CORRECTING ID Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017. Serbia’s Vladimir Stojkovic. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria’s Guido Burgstaller celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria coach Marcel Koller celebrates after the match with Marko Arnautovic REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Nemanja Matic celebrates scoring their second goal with Branislav Ivanovic REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria’s Marko Arnautovic celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Austria’s Heinz Lindner REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Serbia’s Dusan Tadic reacts REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Serbia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - October 6, 2017 Fans are watched by police during the game REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger