Cardiff, WALES, October 11, 2003 (uefa.com/Reuters) - Serbia and Montenegro ended their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign on a high, as they beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Mark Hughes' side, who still reached the play-offs after finishing second in Group Nine behind Italy, fell behind after just three minutes when Zvominir Vukic fired home a free-kick. John Hartson shot Wales level 22 minutes later when Goran Gavrancic pulled him back in the box and the Celtic FC striker converted the resultant penalty himself.
The visitors added Goran Bunjevcevic, Dragan Sarac, Nenad Djordjevic and Branko Boskovic to the side that beat Wales 1-0 in August, but it was goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric who caught the eye, making a string of superb saves from Rhys Weston, Bellamy, Barnard and Gabbidon.
Those blocks paid dividends eight minutes from time when Serbo-Montenegrin substitute Savo Milosevic received Vukic's superb pass and send a left-footed shot past Welsh goalkeeper Paul Jones to make it 2-1. Five minutes later, another substitute Danijel Ljuboja virtually clinched the away win with a powerful shot.
Robert Earnshaw headed in a well-worked corner in added time to pull one back for Wales.
Group 9 - All results
Finland - Wales 0-2, Azerbaijan - Italy 0-2, Finland - Azerbaijan 3-0, Italy - SERB&MONT 1-1, SERB&MONT - Finland 2-0, Wales - Italy 2-1, Azerbaijan - Wales 0-2, SERB&MONT - Azerbaijan 2-2, Wales - Azerbaijan 4-0, Italy - Finland 2-0, Finland - SERB&MONT 3-0, Azerbaijan - SERB&MONT 2-1, Finland - Italy 0-2, SERB&MONT - Wales 1-0, Azerbaijan - Finland 1-2, Italy - Wales 4-0, Wales - Finland 1-1, SERB&MONT - Italy 1-1, Wales - SERB&MONT 2-3, Italy - Azerbaijan 4-0.
Group 9 - Final Standings
G W D L F-A Pts
1. Italy 8 5 2 1 17- 4 17 - advance to Euro 2004
2. Wales 8 4 1 3 13-10 13 - advance to Euro 2004 play-off
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3. Serb&Mont 8 3 3 2 11-11 12
4. Finland 8 3 1 4 9-10 10
5. Azerbaijan 8 1 1 6 5-20 4
