Point earns Croatia progress

Croatia secured the point they needed to reach the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs after getting the point they needed to win qualifying Group 7.

Two points clear of Slovakia at kick-off, Croatia knew a draw in their final game would give them an unassailable advantage due to their head-to-head advantage over the second-placed side, who play Norway on Tuesday. And two Ivan Perišić goals made sure of that even though Filip Duričić equalised with eight minutes left to confirm third position for Serbia.

The home side led on three minutes when Miloš Bosančić found Stefan Šćepović, who beat two Croatia players and lobbed Ivan Kelava. However, nine minutes later Dejan Školnik's corner was turned in by Perišić, and they combined in identical style to make it 2-1 just past the half-hour in similar style, the Club Brugge KV midfielder heading past Branislav Danilović

Marko Jovanović's unselfish cut back to substitute Duričić, who had come on just four minutes earlier, ensured points were shared but Croatia can look forward to Friday's play-off draw., in which Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Greece are already assured places They are just one two-legged tie in October away from next June's finals in Denmark.