Aleksandar Kolarov scored a spectacular free-kick to give Serbia a deserved victory in their opening World Cup Group E match against Costa Rica.

Serbia captain Kolarov - the former Manchester City defender - scored from 25 yards when he curled the ball over the Costa Rica wall.


Kolarov's effort had sufficient bend to find the top corner with Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas clutching at thin air as he desperately scrambled across goal.
Costa Rica only sporadically threatened the Serbia goal, with an early header over the crossbar from unmarked defender Giancarlo Gonzalez their best effort.


With games against Brazil and Switzerland to come, this was a key match for both nations to press their credentials to reach the knockout stages.


Mladen Krstajic's Serbia side - the lowest ranked European nation at Russia 2018 - now appear the best placed of the two to progress after a dominant second-half display.





BBC      News.