"It's a match we should win, but Serbia are tough on their home field," team captain Kosovare Asllani told SVT.
"Frustrating that we didn't get the ball in. We fought and gave it our all," the veteran said.
The Swedish women's soccer team arrived in the small Serbian town, halfway between the North Pole and the equator, and first encountered a warming spring sun, then a Serbian national team that didn't give its guests a second's peace.
Not least, the Malmö FF duo Miljana Ivanovic and Vesna Milivojevic ran and battled and made life miserable for their much more highly rated Swedish opponents.
Just like against Italy, Sweden struggled to create a single real scoring chance, and when one did come after just over half an hour, a Serbian defender almost diverted Smilla Holmberg's cross into her own net, but Milica Kostic made a sharp save on the goal line to deny Sweden the lead.
Serbia closest
Serbia were clearer in their play, more direct in their attack. In the final minutes, it almost gave the home team a 1–0 lead when Milivojevic fired a long-range shot into Jennifer Falk's near post.
At the start of the second half it was close again, when Falk misplayed a backpass. Miljana Ivanovic rushed forward, got a foot on the ball, but fortunately for the Swedish side it did not end up in the net.
When Sweden and Serbia met in the Euro 2024 play-offs, Sweden won 8–0 on aggregate. But the 33rd-ranked Balkan nation have something going for them. They upset Denmark away in the first match (3–1) and did so again at home against Sweden now.
Weak finishing
Sweden's coach Tony Gustavsson tried to bring in new energy in the second half. First he brought on experienced players Stina Blackstenius and Fridolina Rolfö; a little later, younger talents Evelyn Ijeh and Rosa Kafaji were given their chance.
Rolfö had a decent chance; Kafaji had another.
Both times the finishing was too weak.
Sweden have started the World Cup qualifiers with four points, which is a decent start. But one goal in four halves - Filippa Angeldahl scored the match-winning goal against Italy from distance - is not impressive. Even more so, the Swedish goal chances have been easy to calculate.
Next month, the qualifiers continue with two home matches: against Denmark on April 14, and against Serbia four days later.
"There's a lot left to play for. We just have to learn and see what we can do better in the other games," Asllani said.
