Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to tears as Serbia edged Portugal 2-1 on their home soil to clinch automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Portugal went into the tie needing just a point to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar and took the lead inside two minutes.
Renato Sanches burst through on goal after Bernardo Silva controversially robbed the opposition of the ball, before the Lille man smashed home.
But Serbia refused to lie down, and they were level when former Southampton man Dusan Tadic equalised for the visitors before half-time.
There was a nervy, uneasy atmosphere building inside the ground with just 15 minutes to play as Serbia applied the pressure. Just one goal would be enough to see them leapfrog Portugal into the automatic spots and their persistence paid off in the 90th minute.
Mitrovic, who missed the all important penalty as Serbia lost to Scotland in the Euro 2020 play-off final on penalties a year ago, rose highest at the back post to power the ball past Rui Patricio.
Jubilant scenes then following as the entire Serbia team and bench sprinted towards the corner flag.
The cameras then panned to Ronaldo, who was throwing his arms around in frustration.
Portugal will now slug it out in the playoffs along with Sweden, Wales, Switzerland or Italy, Finland or Ukraine, Scotland, one of Turkey, Norway or the Netherlands, as well as Russia, Poland or England, and North Macedonia or Romania.
