Serbia v Wales

Serbia 6

Kolarov 16′ Tosic 24′ Djuricic 39′ Tadic 55′ Ivanovic 80′ Sulejmani 89′

Wales 1

Bale 31′

FT 90 +3
HT 3-1

Darcy Blake shows his post- 6-1 defeat feelings

Wales were humiliated in Serbia as they slipped to their heaviest defeat since 1996 and suffered a huge setback in their bid to reach the 2014 World Cup.

Poor defending allowed Aleksandar Kolarov and Zoran Tosic to put the Eagles 2-0 up before Gareth Bale's superb free-kick got Wales back in it.

But more sloppy play allowed Filip Djuricic to fire past Boaz Myhill, with Dusan Tadic striking a fourth.

Branislav Ivanovic and Miralem Sulejmani completed the rout.

The thumping defeat by a Serbia side that had scored only three goals in their previous nine games leaves Wales without a point from their opening two qualifiers, following Friday's opening 2-0 home loss to Belgium.

Analysis

Kevin Ratcliffe Former Wales captain & BBC Wales pundit

"I'm not quite sure if the system we've got actually suits the players that we've got at the moment.

"Aaron Ramsey to me is a miss at the moment. He's not playing well and it's very difficult to leave your captain out, isn't it, when you've made him captain of your national side?

"He might need to be left out, to get that confidence back and be a better player than he is at the moment - because at the moment we're not getting anything from him."

After that result, manager Chris Coleman admitted that Wales' recent form was "weighing on his mind", while also expressing confidence that his side could reach a first major finals since the 1958 World Cup.

But any confidence that existed will now be in tatters after this thrashing in Vojvodina by Serbia, who were held to a goalless draw by Scotland in their opener.

The Eagles were only three places above Wales in the Fifa world rankings going into the encounter, underlining the perception of a Group A which few observers viewed as a forgone conclusion before qualifying began.

However, while Wales waited on the fitness of midfielder Joe Allen following the illness that ruled him out of the Belgium game, Coleman also had to wrestle with injuries and Craig Bellamy's unavailability.

Coleman may have seen some positives in the opening exchanges but Allen soon gave the hosts a free-kick on the edge of Wales' penalty area and Darcy Blake threatened an own goal as he sliced an attempted clearance.

That boosted the confidence of Sinisa Mihajlovic's Serbia side and when Kolarov lined up a free-kick on the edge of the area, the goal that followed was a belter.

The Manchester City defender scooped the ball over the Welsh wall and into the back of the net for his first international goal.

Having contributed to the hosts' goal with their indiscipline, Wales then failed to deal with Kolarov's run into the penalty area.

Even when confronted by the byline and having stumbled following four failed attempts to halt his progress, Kolarov was able to bring the ball back to Tosic, who tapped it home from close range.

Bale gave Wales hope following a rare first-half incursion at the other end, his free-kick powering into the back of the net from 30 yards with home goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic rooted to his line.

But the visitors' frailty at the back was exposed again as the ball reached Djuricic, who put it into the roof of the net.

That left Wales trailing 3-1 at the break and worse was to follow.

Coleman sent on David Vaughan for David Edwards and Sam Ricketts for Adam Matthews.

Vaughan's first act was to give away a free-kick on the edge of Wales' penalty area, but although they survived on this occasion Bale then lost control and a rapid Serbia attack ended with Ivanovic sliding the ball across to give Tadic a simple finish.

Wales were again culpable for the fifth - Blake being dispossessed for home skipper Ivanovic to finish into the bottom corner.

When substitute Sulejmani rounded off the scoring with a deflected strike that looped in over Myhill, it completed Wales' worst defeat since a 7-1 loss to the Netherlands.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Serbia

01 Stojkovic
04 Bisevac
05 Mattija Nastasic
06 Ivanovic
11 Kolarov
03 Fejsa
07 Tosic (Sulejmani - 71' )
10 Tadic
17 Ignjovski (Mijailovic - 85' )
19 Djuricic (Lekic - 81' )
21 Markovic

Substitutes

12 Kahriman
23 Brkic
02 Tomovic
13 Maksimovic
20 Subotic
08 Petrovic
14 Matic
16 Mijailovic
18 Ninkovic
22 Lazovic
09 Sulejmani
15 Lekic

Wales

01 Myhill
02 Gunter
03 Matthews (Ricketts - 45' )
06 Williams
11 Bale
04 Edwards (Vaughan - 45' )
05 Blake Booked
07 Allen (King - 72' )
10 Ramsey Booked
08 Church
09 Morison

Substitutes

12 Brown
21 Price
13 Davies
14 Ricketts
15 Richards
16 Vaughan
17 King
20 Williams
22 Robson-Kanu
18 Earnshaw
19 Vokes

Ref: Gomes

Att: 11,300

Match Stats

Possession 67 33

Shots

22 5

On target

19 2

Corners

9 6

Fouls

8 11

Live Text Commentary

89:00

Lazar Markovic provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +2:14 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +0:29

Aaron Ramsey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ljubomir Fejsa. Vladimir Stojkovic restarts play with the free kick.

89:00

Dusan Tadic provided the assist for the goal.

89:00 Goal scored

Goal - Miralem Sulejmani - Serbia 6 - 1 Wales Miralem Sulejmani finds the net with a brilliant goal from outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Serbia 6-1 Wales.

85:24

Aleksandar Kolarov challenges David Vaughan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Aaron Ramsey takes the direct free kick.

84:15 Substitution

Substitution (Serbia) makes a substitution, with Srdan Mijailovic coming on for Aleksandar Ignjovski.

84:15

Branislav Ivanovic takes a shot from 30 yards. Boaz Myhill makes a save.

83:02

Corner taken right-footed by Aaron Ramsey from the right by-line, Branislav Ivanovic manages to make a clearance.

80:55

Corner taken right-footed by Aaron Ramsey from the right by-line, Shot from deep inside the area by Ashley Williams clears the crossbar.

80:28 Substitution

Substitution Filip Djuricic leaves the field to be replaced by Dejan Lekic.

79:08 Goal scored

Goal - Branislav Ivanovic - Serbia 5 - 1 Wales Branislav Ivanovic scores a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Serbia 5-1 Wales.

78:48

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Aleksandar Kolarov from the left by-line.

77:49

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Aleksandar Kolarov.

77:49 Booking

Booking Aaron Ramsey is cautioned.

77:18

Aaron Ramsey concedes a free kick for a foul on Aleksandar Ignjovski.

77:01

Drilled right-footed shot by Lazar Markovic. Save made by Boaz Myhill.

76:10

Chris Gunter gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lazar Markovic. Free kick taken by Aleksandar Kolarov.

71:50 Substitution

Substitution Joe Allen leaves the field to be replaced by Andy King.

70:15 Substitution

Substitution Miralem Sulejmani on for Zoran Tosic.

66:54

Zoran Tosic takes a shot from 12 yards. Blocked by Samuel Ricketts.

64:19

Gareth Bale takes a shot. Blocked by Milan Bisevac. Corner taken by Aaron Ramsey from the left by-line.

61:23

Branislav Ivanovic restarts play with the free kick.

61:23 Booking

Booking Darcy Blake booked.

60:51

Darcy Blake gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Filip Djuricic.

59:18

Aleksandar Kolarov takes a shot. Blocked by David Vaughan. Corner taken by Zoran Tosic.

54:15

The assist for the goal came from Branislav Ivanovic.

54:15 Goal scored

Goal - Dusan Tadic - Serbia 4 - 1 Wales Dusan Tadic fires in a goal from inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Serbia 4-1 Wales.