TBILISI (Reuters) - Serbia stayed on course to reach their first major tournament in eight years after goals from Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Mijat Gacinovic gave them a smash-and-grab 3-1 win over Georgia in a World Cup Group D qualifier on Friday. The result provisionally lifted the Serbians, who have not played on the big stage since the 2010 World Cup, to the top of their group with 11 points from five games. Georgia thoroughly dominated the first half and missed several chances after Nika Kacharava gave them a sixth-minute lead with his first international goal after a howler by Aleksandar Kolarov. Stojkovic produced a triple save on the hour before Mitrovic fired Serbia ahead against the run of play. Tadic, who has scored four and assisted seven of Serbia's 12 goals in the campaign, was again instrumental as his deft touch released substitute and debutant Gacinovic to seal Serbia's win with his first international goal.

Source: The Star March 24, 2017 19:07 UTC