Ireland fall behind Serbia in Group D as Shane Duffy’s strike fails to earn victory in Georgia

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND slipped two points behind leaders Serbia after surrendering an early lead to draw 1-1 in Georgia.

The visitors broke the deadlock after just four minutes at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena through Shane Duffy.

Cyrus Christie lofted a long free-kick deep into the area and the Brighton defender rose highest to beat the flapping goalkeeper and head into the net from ten yards out.

But their advantage would only last half an hour as the hosts pegged them back.

After withstanding some Georgia pressure, Jano Ananidze danced past Christie on the edge of the box to open up the defence.

The attacker slipped the ball into the path of Valeri Qazaishvili, who placed it calmly past the onrushing Darren Randolph to equalise.

From then on Martin O'Neill's side were mostly on the back foot as they battled to keep a share of the spoils.

Harry Arter did fire a 20-yarder straight at the 'keeper, while Shane Long headed over when unmarked from a Christie cross.

They then had to survive a bit of a late scare, but they still had a late chance to secure what would have been a vital victory.

A free-kick ended up with Aiden McGeady ten yards out, but the Sunderland winger got his feet under the ball and blazed it over in the third minute of injury time.

The pressure was intensified later in the evening as third-placed Wales closed the gap to two points.

Ben Woodburn came off the bench to fire the Welsh to a 1-0 victory on with a thunderous debut strike.

Leaders Serbia are now two clear at the summit after their 3-0 home victory over Moldova.