SOCCER/Serbia & Montenegro 1; Wales 0 Wales suffered the first serious setback of a hitherto invigorating qualifying campaign in suffocating Balkan heat last night.
This is the first game Mark Hughes' side have not won in Group Nine.
Needing just a draw to guarantee a place in November's play-offs, and to extend their lead over Italy to three points, Wales appeared on course with a composed defensive display in which Cardiff City's Danny Gabbidon, winning his fifth cap, and Sheffield United's Robert Page were both towering.
But the arrival of the former Aston Villa centre-forward Savo Milosevic in the 72nd minute gave Serbia and Montenegro renewed physical menace and Milosevic's first contribution was to win a header that set up Dragan Mladenovic for the game's only goal.
Wales's response was admirable and substitute Robert Earnshaw nearly scored an 80th- minute equaliser when he rounded the goalkeeper, but he had his side-foot shot cleared by sweeper Mladen Krstajic.
The result leaves Wales top of the group but they now travel to Italy in just over a fortnight and the odds must be that Hughes's team's first competitive defeat since September 2001 will be followed by a second.
Even that scenario would still leave Wales in with a reasonable chance of winning the group - Italy have yet to visit Belgrade and that will be no formality for the Italians.
The one bonus was none of the three Welshmen on yellow cards got another, so Wales should be at full strength at the San Siro.
This equally evocative stadium may have been half full last night but there was still a powerful noise when the 30,000 got behind the Serbs - they had reason to do so early on and often after that.
Darko Kovacevic, once of Sheffield Wednesday, served warning of what was to come with one minute gone when he rushed to the Wales near post and diverted a low shot narrowly past it.
But fortunately Page and Gabbidon also stood out from the early stages. In front of them Mark Pembridge was endeavour personified, the 32-year-old winning his 49th cap and showing his experience in nicking possession from the Serbian midfield rather than trying to out-run them.
Pembridge's interventions were a feature of a first half in which it became quickly apparent 0-0 would be a good result. Paul Jones was forced into an alert feet-first save from Mladenovic in the 12th minute, though Jones was helpless and beaten when Stankovic took aim from 30 yards just past the half hour and struck the far post.
Wales, meanwhile, were posing no such threat. It was 33 minutes before they managed a shot. When it came, from Nathan Blake's left foot, it swerved a yard or more wide. But there were moments of Welsh promise.
On the right flank Craig Bellamy had one bright run and cross, while on the left, Ryan Giggs suggested he could be the difference with a couple of surges and centres. One, in the 29th minute, was just inches too long for Simon Davies. It has to be said, however, when Wales did seek to attack the Serbs immediately pulled 10 men behind the ball.
Room was a precious commodity. Davies had a comparatively quiet opening 45 minutes but the Tottenham midfielder found more after the break. Cirkovic and company were finding it hard to rediscover the rhythm of before, to the extent that the home fans were jeering their own soon after the interval.
A crisp Stankovic shot from the edge of the area - comfortably gathered by Jones - briefly upped the tempo again, yet it was on the verge of petering out when Mladenovic struck. An indication of Serb anxiety was the introduction of Milosevic seconds before the goal. Milosevic instantly took up a far post position for Stankovic's imminent corner. It was deep and Milosevic met it with a typical headed knock back.
The ball ran directly to Mladenovic and with Jones lured out of the middle of goal Mladenovic volleyed into vacant space.
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: Jevric; Gavrancic, Krstajic, Stefanovic; Cirkovic, Mladenovic, Vukic (Ilic, 68) Stankovic (Dordevic, 81) Dragutinovic; Kezman (Milosevic, 72) Kovacevic. Booked: Vukic, Stankovic, Jevric, Milosevic.
WALES: Jones; Delaney, Page, Gabbidon, Speed; Davies, Pembridge, Savage; Bellamy, Giggs; Blake, (Earnshaw, 78). Booked: Delaney.
Referee: A Frisk (Sweden).
