Late loss for Northern Ireland under 21s against Serbia

Ciaran McGuckin cancelled out Vladimir Lucic's opener in Lurgan with a second-half spot-kick.

But the visitors took full advantage of a moment of Northern Irish indecision to seal all three points.

Serbia skipper Lucic handed his side a 1-0 lead with a super strike, dodging his marker before tucking the ball past a sprawling Stephen McMullan.

McMullan soon made a good save to deny the visitors a quick second.

The hosts came close when Charlie Allen crossed from the edge of the area, looking for Justin Devenny.

Devenny was within inches of an equaliser at the far post but the ball instead took a deflection off a Serbian defender before bouncing out of danger.

Tommy Wright’s Northern Ireland drew level after the break when Marko Lazetic barged into Tommy Fogarty and, despite Serbia's protestations, Norwegian referee Kristoffer Hagenes deemed the off-the-ball shove forceful enough to award the hosts a penalty, dutifully struck into the bottom right by McGuckin.

It took a fine save by Veljko Ilic to stop a surging JJ McKiernan from handing Northern Ireland the lead before Pantovic pounced on a loose ball inside the box, which appeared to hit his hand as it bounced up before tapping in the winner.

No handball was awarded, however, the Serbian's effort ultimately proving enough to seal the result.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Stephen McMullan, Carl Johnston (captain), Sean Stewart, Michael Forbes, Tommy Fogarty, Jamie McDonnell, Terry Devlin, Charlie Allen, Ciaran McGuckin, JJ McKiernan, Justin Devenny.

Substitutes: Chris McKee, Paddy Kelly, Charlie Lindsay, Ross McCausland, Josh Clarke, Ruairi McConville, Charlie McCann, Micheal Glynn, Darren Robinson.