Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off the pitch seconds earlier than the very last whistle after he changed into denied a clean winner in a arguable climax to their World Cup qualifier in opposition to Serbia, who fought lower back from dreams right all the way down to grab a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
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Ronaldo changed into left fuming in stoppage time whilst his attempt changed into cleared through Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic after it had crossed the line, with Dutch referee Danny Makkelie waving play on and with out a VAR in location to study the decision.Ronaldo
Ronaldo threw his captain's armband at the ground earlier than leaving the pitch and heading for the tunnel seconds earlier than the fulltime whistle in a exciting Group A qualifier.
A Diogo Jota double had given Portugal a 2-zero lead withinside the first 1/2 of however Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic have become his country's all-time pinnacle scorer on 39 dreams from sixty three global appearances after he pulled one lower back withinside the forty sixth minute.
The Serbians, who ended the suit with 10 men, earned a percentage of the spoils whilst Filip Kostic levelled and Portugal's distress changed into finished in stoppage time with Ronaldo additionally booked for dissent whilst his attempt changed into denied.
"There are moments which can be hard to digest in particular whilst we sense the whole state is being punished," Ronaldo stated on Instagram. "We will preserve our heads up and circulate directly to the subsequent task."
Seconds earlier, Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic changed into despatched off having obtained a instantly pink card for a rash task on Portugal midfielder Danilo Pereira.
The end result left each aspects on 4 factors from games, with Serbia topping the organization in advance of Portugal on dreams scored even as Luxembourg are 0.33 on 3 factors from one recreation after a surprise 1-zero win at Ireland.
Portugal educate Fernando Santos changed into gracious in accepting the end result even though he stated it changed into unacceptable now no longer to have VAR at this degree of competition.
"The referee apologised to me instantly after the sport and we now should circulate on," he instructed a information conference.
"It changed into a clean purpose however there may be not anything we will do now. We managed the primary 1/2 of however misplaced our awareness withinside the 2d and didn't include Serbia as they surged forward."
Serbia educate Dragan Stojkovic, who made 5 modifications to the aspect that beat Ireland on his countrywide crew debut on Wednesday, changed into philosophical approximately the incident.
"I by no means touch upon referee's choices whether or not they move our manner or now no longer. Mistakes through officers are a part of the sport and ought to be considered as such. I failed to see it clearly, I can handiest byskip a verdict after I've visible the replay.
"Ronaldo is a splendid participant however we in large part contained him this night and withinside the 2d 1/2 of we confirmed real grit and man or woman to combat lower back from dreams down.
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