Greece completed a dramatic comeback at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade, where a 95th-minute goal from Anastasios Douvikas stunned Serbia, who led early on before crumbling to a 2-1 defeat in their Nations League opener.
Dusan Tadic’s return to the Serbia national team after a two-year absence could scarcely have enjoyed a finer start. Barely four minutes had elapsed when the veteran playmaker set up Andrija Zivkovic, allowing the PAOK winger to beat the Greek goalkeeper with a crisp half-volley from inside the penalty area.
Yet the early breakthrough did little to settle the hosts. Greece responded with purpose straight from the restart and came agonisingly close to levelling when an effort from Christos Tzolis crashed against the post. The Greek forward, his side’s sharpest attacking outlet, went close once more before the interval with a 20-yard strike that forced Vanja Milinkovic-Savic into a full-stretch save. Serbia preserved their slender advantage into the break, but the contest was increasingly being played inside their own half.
Veljko Paunovic’s charges failed to seize control after the restart and ultimately paid a heavy price for their passivity. Tzolis, the architect of almost every Greek foray forward, finally gained his reward with a precise right-footed strike late on.
While a stalemate seemed the most probable outcome, Greece still had one final blow left in reserve. In the 95th minute, Konstantinos Tsimikas whipped a pinpoint cross into the box and Tasos Douvikas arrived to nod into an empty net, sealing a turnaround that did full justice to the visitors’ relentless enterprise.
Serbia let slip a contest they had led since the fourth minute, squandering a prime opportunity to make a statement ahead of daunting Group 2 tests against heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands. Greece, by contrast, converted their sustained pressure into three precious points with a finale that proved as cruel as it was devastating for the Balkan side.
