Match ends, Republic of Ireland 0, Serbia 1.
The Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualification hopes suffered a huge blow as 10-man Serbia took firm control of Group D by winning in Dublin.
Former Manchester City defender Aleksander Kolarov scored on 55 minutes and the visitors held on despite Nikola Maksimovic's 68th-minute red card.
The Republic were much improved from the 1-1 draw in Georgia but the defeat drops them to third in the group.
Serbia are four points clear of Wales, with the Irish a further point back.
Uphill task for O'Neill's men
Midfielder David Meyler said after the game that he thought his team were "still in a good position" but the table would suggest otherwise.
While the Serbs will win Group D if they beat Austria in Vienna on 6 October, the Republic's qualification hopes now look likely to rest on clinching a play-off spot by finishing above Wales, who beat Moldova 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Martin O'Neill's team play Moldova in Dublin on 6 October and then face a potentially crucial match against Wales in Cardiff three days later.
But even finishing second would not necessarily guarantee a play-off place - they will be filled by the eight best runners-up in the nine European qualifying groups so one nation finishing second will miss out.
Improved Republic just cannot find the net
Tuesday's match ended in O'Neill's first qualifying defeat in Dublin but his team certainly had enough chances to score.
The selection of Wes Hoolahan and the performance of man of the match David Meyler led to a massively improved display from Saturday's game in Tbilisi.
Brighton defender Shane Duffy had the ball in Serbia's net in the 10th minute but the header was correctly ruled out for offside, before a Shane Long effort was tipped over by Vladimir Stojkovic.
Substitute Daryl Murphy, who had been dragged down just outside the box in the incident that led to Maksimovic's red card, appeared to have been hauled back by Jagos Vukovic in the 76th minute but Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakis waved away the penalty claims.
Amid intense late Irish pressure, Murphy had a chance to level on 86 minutes, but his right-foot shot from the edge of the area was fired straight at keeper Stojkovic.
And to complete a miserable night, bookings for Robbie Brady and James McClean from challenges born largely of frustration mean they will miss the home qualifier against Moldova on 6 October.
Serbia show nous and know-how
Serbia, unbeaten in qualifying going into the match, had vastly experienced players such as Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic - and as they closed out a game they played for nearly half an hour with 10 men that know-how proved invaluable.
They drew fouls at every opportunity and were adept at slowing the game down, with Stojkovic eventually booked for time wasting.
After the Republic's bright start, the Serbs had begun to look dangerous as Darren Randolph denied Newcastle's Aleksander Mitrovic and Antonio Rukavina also shot over after more brilliant Kostic invention.
But their goal eventually came through Kolarov, who smashed in his left-foot winner off the underside of the bar after being played in by the superb Kostic.
O'Neill's run ends - the stats
- The Republic of Ireland lost their first competitive home game under Martin O'Neill, ending a run of nine games without defeat at the Aviva Stadium.
- It was their first defeat at the Aviva Stadium in competitive action since September 2013 (v Sweden), under Giovanni Trapattoni.
- They remain winless against Serbia, with both of their losses coming on home soil (D3 L2).
- Martin O'Neill's side have scored just two goals at home in 2018 World Cup qualifying; only Faroe Islands (1) and Latvia, San Marino and Liechtenstein (all zero) have scored fewer amongst European nations.
- Belgium's Thomas Meunier (4) is the only defender to have scored more goals than Aleksandar Kolarov (2) in 2018 European World Cup qualifying.
Line-ups
Republic of Ireland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Randolph
- 2Christie
- 20Duffy
- 3Clark
- 17WardSubstituted forO'Dowdaat 72'minutes
- 18MeylerSubstituted forHourihaneat 80'minutes
- 14HoolahanSubstituted forMurphyat 62'minutes
- 10BradyBooked at 70mins
- 19Walters
- 11McCleanBooked at 74mins
- 9Long
Substitutes
- 1Westwood
- 4O'Shea
- 5Keogh
- 6Whelan
- 7Horgan
- 8Murphy
- 12O'Dowda
- 13Long
- 15Hourihane
- 16Elliot
- 21Hayes
- 22Arter
Serbia
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1StojkovicBooked at 90mins
- 6Ivanovic
- 19MaksimovicBooked at 68mins
- 15Vukovic
- 2RukavinaBooked at 52mins
- 16Milivojevic
- 21Matic
- 11Kolarov
- 10TadicSubstituted forGudeljat 82'minutes
- 17KosticSubstituted forMitrovicat 72'minutes
- 9MitrovicSubstituted forPrijovicat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Obradovic
- 4Gudelj
- 5Nastasic
- 7Tosic
- 8Prijovic
- 12Rajkovic
- 13Mitrovic
- 14Gacinovic
- 18Spajic
- 20Radoja
- 22Ljajic
- 23Jovanovic
- Referee:
- Cüneyt Çakir
- Attendance:
- 50,153
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 0, Serbia 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Robbie Brady with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Aleksandar Kolarov.
Booking
Vladimir Stojkovic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Stefan Mitrovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland).
Post update
Attempt missed. James McClean (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Shane Duffy.
Post update
Foul by Stefan Mitrovic (Serbia).
Post update
Jonathan Walters (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Jagos Vukovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland).
Post update
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by James McClean.
Post update
Foul by Aleksandar Prijovic (Serbia).
Post update
Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Shane Long with a headed pass.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jagos Vukovic (Serbia) because of an injury.
Comments
Join the conversation
They're not part of the UK anymore. So why should we even care?
They make a point of being 'independent' (except when they run out of money and 'turn to their neighbour'). Plus they celebrate when we lose.
So why on Earth should we shed any tears when they get beat?
Personally I'm glad they lost. Congrats Serbia
"used to ROI being in the finals"
Really!? They have made it to 3 of the last 7 world cup finals, and haven't managed to qualify since 2002!!
A pity such a bigoted comment can be published here, but at least the Irish staff in the BBC have a say in sports coverage.
Serbia probably deserved the win, even taking into account the penalty shout, which was ignored.
We just were not quite good enough, and all we can do is fight until the bitter end.
Thanks bbc
Nonetheless, I still think Wales will get a play-off place as they'll stuff Georgia and then have home advantage against Ireland.
Gareth Bale needs to stay fit though.
1. Most play for English teams.
2. Millions of residents in England either Irish or of Irish descent.
3. are our nearest neighbours.
4. History
5. trading partners
6. They're the nicest, funniest, most welcoming and best educated of all the small islands in this archipelago.
Having said that, very disappointing campaign so far - used to ROI being in the finals and it will be a great shame if they miss out.