BOURNEMOUTH goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic was lobbed from near the HALFWAY LINE in Serbia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
The former Chelsea star was caught cold by Guillaume Lopez from inside the centre circle.
Serbia midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic’s wayward loose pass was eagerly intercepted by Lopez from 35 yards inside 17 minutes.
Lopez then had the presence of mind to drill a shot over helpless Premier League stopper Petrovic, who was a long way out of his six-yard box.
Petrovic, 26, flippantly dived backwards, but was unable to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net.
But Serbia hit back instantly through Christian Garcia’s own-goal, before Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic gave them the lead in the 54th minute.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic then converted a controversial penalty to give Serbia a win that keeps their slim hopes of qualifying alive.
Both teams are in England‘s Group K, with the Serbs sitting third, outside the play-off spots, and Andorra rock bottom.
Since leaving Stamford Bridge for the Vitality Stadium in July, Petrovic has started all seven games for Andoni Iraola‘s side.
He was left out of Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad in June before securing his £25m exit to the south-west.
The goalkeeper replaced fellow former Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who joined Arsenal in a £5m deal this summer.
He saved a penalty in a politically-charged World Cup qualifier away to Albania.
But his good work in Tirana was undone in the home match as Serbia slumped to a feeble 1-0 loss to leave the Albanians a point above them with both teams having two games left.
Serbia travel to England away and must pick up a point if Albania pick up an expected victory in Andorra.
Albania then play England at home while Serbia host Latvia.
It remains to be seen what changes Thomas Tuchel will make for England’s final two fixtures after the Three Lions qualified with a 5-0 win in Latvia.
Petrovic, who joined Chelsea from New England Revolution in a £14m deal in 2023, spent last season on loan at French club Strasbourg.
He was named player of the season as Strasbourg secured a Europa Conference League spot by finishing seventh in Ligue 1.
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