Serbia Secures Victory Against Andorra in World Cup Qualifiers
Captain Aleksandar Mitrović scores a hat-trick in his 100th international appearance.
The Serbian national football team achieved a decisive 3-0 victory against Andorra in the qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Captain Aleksandar Mitrović was the standout performer, netting all three goals during the match at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade.
Mitrović's goals came in the 12th, 24th, and 53rd minutes, the latter via a penalty kick, marking his 62nd goal for Serbia on his 100th appearance for the national side.
Serbia dominated possession throughout the match and took the lead early, with an attacking play initiated by Strahinja Pavlović.
He passed to Dušan Vlahović, who executed a one-two with Aleksandar Katai, though he lost footing and fell.
The ball reached Mitrović, who effortlessly slotted it into the net.
Vlahović had a chance to extend the lead in the 18th minute but failed to convert.
Katai also missed the target five minutes later.
In the 24th minute, Serbia doubled their advantage when Mitrović headed home a corner taken by Andrija Živković.
Mitrović attempted to add to his tally in the 38th minute, but his header went wide, a feat repeated shortly after by Vlahović.
No further chances emerged until the second half, where Mitrović missed an opportunity in the 48th minute.
In the 52nd minute, Serbia was awarded a penalty after Vlahović's shot was handled by Biel Bora.
Mitrović converted the spot-kick in the 53rd minute for his third goal of the match.
Serbia continued to press for more goals, with Nemanja Stojić involved in two missed attempts around the 57th and 60th minutes.
Andorra made a rare counterattack in the 63rd minute, with Giljom Lopes forcing a block from Nikola Milenković.
Vlahović nearly increased the tally again in the 77th minute with a header off Živković's corner, but failed to score.
He had another chance in the 86th minute, which was thwarted by Andorra's goalkeeper Iker Alvarez.
As the match approached its conclusion, Milenković attempted a header after a corner but sent it wide, and Vlahović again looked to score in the second minute of injury time, only to have his effort deflected for a corner.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Milenković's follow-up attempt also missed the target.
With this victory, Serbia secured its first win in Group K, accumulating four points from two matches, while Andorra suffered its fourth consecutive defeat.
Serbia's next match is scheduled for September 6 against Latvia.
Captain Aleksandar Mitrović was the standout performer, netting all three goals during the match at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade.
Mitrović's goals came in the 12th, 24th, and 53rd minutes, the latter via a penalty kick, marking his 62nd goal for Serbia on his 100th appearance for the national side.
Serbia dominated possession throughout the match and took the lead early, with an attacking play initiated by Strahinja Pavlović.
He passed to Dušan Vlahović, who executed a one-two with Aleksandar Katai, though he lost footing and fell.
The ball reached Mitrović, who effortlessly slotted it into the net.
Vlahović had a chance to extend the lead in the 18th minute but failed to convert.
Katai also missed the target five minutes later.
In the 24th minute, Serbia doubled their advantage when Mitrović headed home a corner taken by Andrija Živković.
Mitrović attempted to add to his tally in the 38th minute, but his header went wide, a feat repeated shortly after by Vlahović.
No further chances emerged until the second half, where Mitrović missed an opportunity in the 48th minute.
In the 52nd minute, Serbia was awarded a penalty after Vlahović's shot was handled by Biel Bora.
Mitrović converted the spot-kick in the 53rd minute for his third goal of the match.
Serbia continued to press for more goals, with Nemanja Stojić involved in two missed attempts around the 57th and 60th minutes.
Andorra made a rare counterattack in the 63rd minute, with Giljom Lopes forcing a block from Nikola Milenković.
Vlahović nearly increased the tally again in the 77th minute with a header off Živković's corner, but failed to score.
He had another chance in the 86th minute, which was thwarted by Andorra's goalkeeper Iker Alvarez.
As the match approached its conclusion, Milenković attempted a header after a corner but sent it wide, and Vlahović again looked to score in the second minute of injury time, only to have his effort deflected for a corner.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Milenković's follow-up attempt also missed the target.
With this victory, Serbia secured its first win in Group K, accumulating four points from two matches, while Andorra suffered its fourth consecutive defeat.
Serbia's next match is scheduled for September 6 against Latvia.
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