BELGRADE, Sept. 7 -- Hosts Serbia lost to Portugal 4-2 in the group stage of Euro 2024 qualifiers in Belgrade on Saturday in Rajko Mitic stadium.

The home team was off to a lively start in the Group B match in front of the capacity spectators but William Carvalho opened scoring for the visitors in the 42nd minute.

Goncalo Guedes extended the lead for Portugal in the 58th minute and the Serbians narrowed the gap ten minutes later, when Nikola Milenkovic caught a long pass with his head and sent it behind Portugal's keeper.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck in the 80th minute, but Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic scored five minutes later, to keep up the tension at 3-2.

However, Bernardo Silva sealed the match with a goal just a minute later, in 86th minute.

With the defeat, the home team lost its runner up position in the group where Ukraine stands atop with 13 points, while Portugal rose to second with five points. Serbia dropped to fourth.

On Tuesday Serbia will play away with Luxembourg while Portugal will face Lithuania.