The atmosphere in Toluca was electric, but not for the Serbian fans. The Serbia national football team arrived as underdogs and left in tears. Mexico, one of the hosts for the upcoming World Cup, delivered a masterclass in attacking football, dismantling the visitors with a staggering 5-1 scoreline. This marks Serbia's second defeat in this qualifying cycle, following a humiliating 3-0 loss to Cape Verde just five days prior. The question now looms large: can Serbia recover before the tournament begins?
The Early Promise and the Collapse
The match started with a glimmer of hope. In the 19th minute, Strahinja Stanic struck, putting Serbia ahead and silencing the home crowd. For a few minutes, it seemed the visitors might cause an upset. But the joy was short-lived. Just fifteen minutes later, in the 34th minute, Mexican forward Vasquez equalized, signaling the shift in momentum. The ball began to roll against Serbia, and the defense looked increasingly fragile.
The Own Goal That Shocked the World
Then came the moment that will be replayed for years. In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, goalkeeper Filip Stankovic attempted to distribute the ball under no real pressure. He played it to defender Nemanja Bukic. Under sudden pressure, Bukic made a catastrophic decision. Instead of clearing the danger, he tried to return the ball to his keeper. The pass was heavy, inaccurate, and rolled straight into the net. Stankovic stood frozen, helpless. The bizarre own goal gave Mexico the lead at halftime. The Mexican commentator’s reaction to this blunder went viral instantly, capturing the sheer disbelief of the moment.
Total Domination in the Second Half
The second half was a one-sided affair. Mexico controlled every aspect of the game. Goals from Jimenez and Chavez added insult to injury. The final blow came via another own goal, this time by Emir Avdic, sealing the 5-1 result. Serbia’s defensive structure completely disintegrated. The performance raises serious concerns about the team's readiness. As they prepare for the World Cup, these errors look less like mistakes and more like a warning sign. The road to recovery starts now, but the damage in Toluca was severe.
serbia's defense rn is a joke honestly. that own goal by bukic was insane, how do you miss an open goal like that? tbh they need a total rebuild before the world cup.