Paunovic Sees Stanić Strike Put Serbia Ahead 1-0 Against Mexico
paunovic got the response he wanted in Toluca. Petar Stanić struck in the 19th minute to put Serbia ahead 1-0 against Mexico in a friendly that came after a 3-0 loss to Cape Verde. Serbia also had to do it without three players who stayed in Europe.
Toluca Breakthrough
Stanić’s goal arrived after a compact start from Serbia and gave the side an immediate foothold in a match that had already asked questions of the visitors. Filip Stanković had made three saves in the opening minutes, and Dragojević was booked in the 16th minute for pulling on a shirt before Serbia found the breakthrough.
The sequence mattered because it showed Serbia recovering from the Cape Verde setback without waiting for a long spell of control. In Toluca, the first decisive action came from Stanić, and it turned a tense opening into a lead.
Paunović In Mexico
Veljko Paunović had said before the match that the team needed to improve its impression after the loss to Cape Verde. He also pointed to the high altitude, saying, “Momci su danas imali prvi trening, odlično su ga odradili, ali su se isto tako susreli sa poteškoćama zbog visoke nadmorske visine.”
He added, “U narednim danima to će ići na bolje, ali moramo biti spremni da će biti neophodan dodatni napor s obzirom na te okolnosti.” Serbia’s coach also has experience in Mexico, having previously coached Chivas in Guadalajara and Tigres.
Serbia's Missing Three
Jovan Milošević, Andrija Živković and Strahinja Pavlović stayed in Europe and did not take part against Mexico, leaving Serbia with three unavailable players for a match built around a quick reset. That left more responsibility on the group that did travel, and Stanić answered first.
Paunović also argued with Mexicans over the taking of one ball during the match, a sharp sideline moment in a game that had already moved past the early saves, the booking and the goal. For Serbia, the cleanest takeaway was the 19th-minute finish and the lead it produced in Toluca.
