Ishak on target as Sweden win in Serbia

• Sweden win Under-21 finals warm-up game against Serbia in Novi Sad
• Mikeal Ishak scores the only goal
• Finals run from 17 to 30 June in Czech Republic

Sweden secured a friendly victory away to fellow UEFA European Under-21 Championship finalists Serbia, coached by Mladen Dodić for the first time after Radomir Ćurčić's promotion to the senior helm.

Both teams took a cautious approach, Abdulrahman Thalili having Sweden's first chance on 14 minutes, testing Marko Dmitrović with a fine volley from just outside the box. Nine minutes later Serbia won a free-kick on the perimeter of the Sweden area but Goran Čaušić's set piece eluded Aleksandar Pešić and Slavoljub Srnić. The goal arrived on 35 minutes as Aleksandar Pantić mis-controlled a pass, allowing Mikeal Ishak to slot the ball into the net despite goalkeeper Dmitrović's best efforts.

Serbia pressed forward in the second half and Aleksandar Čavrić came close in the 52nd minute. At the other end Sweden substitute Viktor Claessen hit the post from 25 metres, and although Pešić and Čavrić had opportunities to level, Håkan Ericson's men held on – keeper Patrick Carlgren notably denying Caušić in the 87th minute. Serbia begin their finals campaign in the Czech Republic against Group A rivals Germany on 17 June, the day before Sweden start Group B against Italy.

Serbia: Dmitrović, Stojković, Lazić, Pantić, Petrović, Radoja (Brašanac 46), Čaušić, Jojić (Kovačević 74); Čavrić (Milunović 63), Srnić (Djurdjević 74); Pešić.

Sweden: Carlgren; Johansson, Augusstinsson, Baffo, Holmen, Tibling (Barkroth 89), Hiljemark, Thallili (Gustafson 80), Lewicki, Hegota (Claessen 71), Ishak.