Serbia beat Italy to go second

Serbia boosted their chances of a place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs by beating Italy 1-0.

Midfielder Goran Čaušić scored the winner on the hour to lift Serbia above Italy into second place and within three points of Group 9 pacesetters Belgium. The only blot on an otherwise memorable night for the hosts came when Lazar Marković received a second yellow card two minutes from time.

On the back foot for long stretches, Italy almost fell behind after 27 minutes when Darko Brašanac fired wide when well-placed inside the area. Shortly before the break, Marković sent a shot narrowly past a post after bursting forward from midfield.

Serbia continued to force the issue in the second half and their persistence prevailed as Čaušić's cross evaded its intended target and crept inside the far post. The Balkan outfit were rarely threatened in the final stages but there was reason to be anxious when Marković was sent off for two bookable offences.