Milan Jovanovic featured for Serbia as they opened their World Cup Group D campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Ghana on Sunday.
Jovanovic - who will reportedly sign for Liverpool from Standard Liege this summer - showed some neat touches including a cheeky nutmeg during a 76-minute outing on the left of midfield.
He should have done better, however, after getting himself in a good position inside the box on 49 minutes.
The game was eventually decided with a late penalty converted by Asamoah Gyan.
Aleksandar Kolarov and Marko Pantelic both came close for Serbia with long-range efforts in the first half, but it wasn't until the second period that the match opened up.
Ghana midfielder Dede Ayew headed wide at the back post on 54 minutes when he should have hit the target, while Gyan came within inches of opening the scoring after a giant throw from Fulham's John Pantsil
At the other end, Birmingham-bound Nikola Zigic was also wasteful, the 6'8 striker spooning a shot from four yards.
Serbia had to play the final 16 minutes with 10 men after Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off for a second yellow card. The dismissal meant Jovanovic was sacrificed as Radomir Antic looked to secure a point.
They almost snatched all three late on when Miloss Krasic and Nemanja Vidic spurned decent chances.
But it was Ghana who ended up clinching victory after a handball from Zdravko Kuzmanovic gifted them a penalty with seven minutes to go. Gyan stepped up to smash home and there was no way back.
In fact it was Ghana that looked most likely to score next, Gyan clattering the post in injury-time.
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