Gareth McAuley scored his second international goal to put Northern Ireland in front in their Euro 2012 qualifier in Serbia but couldn’t prevent his side from falling to a 2-1 defeat. The central defender was winning his 27th cap.
McAuley headed home West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt’s freekick on the right five minutes before half-time but the Serbians got on top in the second period and goals from Marko Pantelić and Zoran ToÅ¡ić saw them to the win.
The match was played in an almost empty stadium, Serbian fans having been banned due to the crowd trouble at their game against Italy. The only supporters present were 265 who had travelled from Northern Ireland.
Elsewhere, Tommy Smith picked up his ninth cap and a yellow card as New Zealand drew 1-1 in a friendly in China. The centre-half is on loan with Colchester until the end of the season.
On-loan striker Tamás Priskin was a 79th minute sub for Hungary as they lost 4-0 to Holland in Budapest. While Priskin was winning his 31st cap, Blues keeper Márton Fülöp was left on the bench throughout.
Town had four players in the Republic of Ireland U21 side which conceded two injury time goals to lose 2-0 in Portugal in a friendly.
Keeper Ian McLoughlin, who is currently on loan at Stockport, played the first half, as did midfielder Shane O’Connor, who was replaced by fellow Blue Conor Hourihane at half-time. Striker Ronan Murray, a Torquay loan player at present, came on in the 77th minute.
O’Connor and Murray were making their U21 debuts, while Hourihane was picking his fifth cap and McLoughlin his second.
Meanwhile, loan defender Darren O'Dea is to start for the Republic of Ireland senior side in Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin (Sky Sports One/HD1 7.15pm). The Celtic man will be winning his fifth cap.
Domestically, Bermudian winger Reggie Lambe made his debut for loan club Bristol Rovers, coming on as a 62nd minute sub in their 2-2 home draw with Peterborough United.