Serbia's hopes of securing a place in the Euro 2012 play-offs suffered a blow despite a 1-1 draw with Italy in qualifying group C at the Marakana stadium here on Friday.
Claudio Marchisio gave the visitors a first minute lead but a goal from Branislav Ivanovic restored parity before half-time.
However, with Estonia winning in Northern Ireland, Serbia must now win their final group game in Slovenia to overtake their rivals for second place in the group.
A draw would see them draw level on points with Estonia but miss out on their head-to-head record, due in no small part to a shock 3-1 home defeat to their rivals last October.
Friday night's results also eliminated Slovenia and Northern Ireland from the play-off running.
After the previous game between Serbia and Italy in Genoa a year ago was called off just six minutes in due to fiery scenes in the stands, this match started at boiling point on the pitch.
Manchester City full-back Aleksandar Kolarov burst forward inside the first 30 seconds and let fly from distance with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon spilling the shot and needing Giorgio Chiellini to hack clear the loose ball.
However, within another 30-seconds, Buffon had punted a long ball upfield and with Serbia's defence getting caught short and finding itself in a muddle, Giuseppe Rossi turned on a sixpence and slipped in Marchisio, breaking from deep, to take one touch and then prod home with his second beyond Bojan Jorgacevic.
Any thoughts the already qualified Italians would be taking this game lightly were dispelled and Rossi could have made it two as he wriggled free in the area only for Jorgacevic to crowd out his shot.
When the equaliser came it was down in no small part to good fortune.
Former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic let fly from outside the area after Milos Krasic's corner was only half cleared and while the shot wasn't heading on target, it hit the grounded Ivanovic and wrong-footed Buffon.
In a half of few chances the only other sniff at goal came from Krasic but his back post volley bounced well wide.
Serbia showed their determination as they stormed out after the break and Kolarov's whipped free-kick had Buffon stumbling to push it clear at his near post.
The hosts then wasted a dangerous break as Kolarov's cross was too close to Buffon, who cut it out easily with Krasic free at the back stick.
Marko Pantellic headed over when well placed while Riccardo Montolivo wasted a chance identical to Kolarov's when he failed to pick out Rossi at the back post.
Antonio Cassano's low shot kept Jorgacevic busy but the game petered out into a stalemate.
Source: AFP
