Gruda Scores on Debut as Germany Beat Nine-Man Serbia 3-1 to Set Up Netherlands Decider

Germany kept their Nations League quarter-final hopes alive with a 3-1 win away to nine-man Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, setting up a winner-takes-all clash with the Netherlands in Berlin on Monday.

The visitors struck twice inside the opening 14 minutes in teeming rain at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. A Kai Havertz header went in off Srdan Babic for a third-minute own goal, and Florian Wirtz bundled home the rebound after Havertz’s shot was saved to double the lead.

Debutant Brajan Gruda made it 3-0 five minutes after the break with a fine solo goal, driving from inside his own half before drilling a low shot into the far corner. Babic pulled one back for Serbia in the 56th minute, but the hosts finished with nine men after substitutes Vanja Dragojevic and Andrija Zivkovic were sent off late on.

Klopp’s second win

The result was Germany’s second victory in five games under Jurgen Klopp, alongside two draws and a defeat, and moved them level with Greece on eight points in Group A2.

Serbia’s relegation confirmed

Serbia have now lost all five of their matches, confirming their relegation from League A. Germany will likely need to beat the Netherlands on Monday to reach the quarter-finals, unless Serbia can take something from their trip to Greece.

Source: Reuters