Greece vs Serbia

The defining moment arrived in the 94th minute at the Rajko Mitić Stadium on September 24, 2026. With the match deadlocked and Serbia desperately clinging to a point, Kostas Tsimikas hurtled down the left flank and whipped a precise cross into the penalty area. Substitute Anastasios Douvikas rose above the Serbian defense, burying a tremendous header past goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić to seal a 2-1 victory for Greece.[1][4]

The stoppage-time winner completed a relentless second-half comeback and marked a historic night for the Greek national team. Making their debut in League A of the UEFA Nations League, the visitors proved they belonged in Europe's top tier by systematically dismantling a physical Serbian side on their own turf.[4][5]

The late drama stood in stark contrast to the match's opening sequence. Serbia struck first in just the fourth minute when Dušan Tadić found space behind the Greek defense and delivered a perfectly weighted ball across the face of goal. Andrija Živković arrived unmarked at the far post to guide his finish home, giving the hosts an immediate 1-0 advantage.[4][6]

But rather than fold, Greece took control of the tempo. Operating with supreme structural patience, the visitors absorbed Serbia's initial physical surge and began to dictate the terms of engagement. By the final whistle, Greece had monopolized 61 percent of possession and completed 588 passes to Serbia's 375.[4]

"From midway through the first half, Greece owned the ball and the territory," noted SofaScore's post-match analysis. The tactical shift pushed Serbia deep into a low defensive block for long stretches, forcing the hosts to rely on 32 clearances and their 68 percent success rate in aerial duels to survive the mounting pressure.[4]

Despite outshooting Serbia 14 to 4 in the first half and generating 1.20 expected goals (xG) before the break, Greece entered the locker room trailing. The Serbian backline, anchored by Strahinja Pavlović, held firm, while the hosts looked to spring rapid counter-strikes through the inside channels whenever possession shifted.[4]

The breakthrough Greece had been threatening finally materialized in the 74th minute. Following a sustained period of possession, Vangelis Pavlidis held up the ball at the edge of the area before slipping a pass to Christos Tzolis. The winger measured a low, clinical finish across Milinković-Savić and into the far corner, leveling the score at 1-1.[1][6]

The equalizer forced both managers' hands. Greece immediately executed a double substitution, bringing on Douvikas and Andrews Tetteh to press for a winner, while Serbia introduced Dejan Joveljić and Aleksa Terzić to inject fresh legs into a tiring squad.[6]

The final 15 minutes devolved into a tense, high-stakes battle. Serbia generated late chances, with Terzić bending a low shot off the post in the final minute of regulation, but Greece's relentless attacking volume ultimately overwhelmed the hosts. The visitors finished the night with a staggering 26-9 advantage in total shots and 56 final-third entries compared to Serbia's 32.[1][4]

Douvikas's decisive header in the 94th minute was the statistical culmination of that dominance. Greece generated 2.49 xG to Serbia's 1.32, and their 43 touches inside the Serbian penalty area underscored exactly where the match was won. For a Greek side looking to establish themselves among the continent's elite, the comeback in Belgrade serves as a massive opening statement in Group A2.[4]