Serbia are now joint leaders of Group Seven after a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Lithuania.

The bubble was burst as early as the sixth minute when Ivanovic headed Serbia into the lead and the hosts doubled their advantage in the 34th minute.

The visitors rallied in the second half but any hopes of rescuing a point were extinguished in the 75th minute when defender Arunas Klimavicius was red carded for stopping a shot on the goal line with his hands.

Although Zigic missed from the penalty spot, the striker redeemed himself six minutes later with a header from substitute Bosko Jankovic's cross.

With both teams on six points, the result puts Serbia above Lithuania on goal difference.

France and Romania are two points behind after Les Bleus fought back from two goals down to snatch a point in Constanta in a match which will have done neither coach any favours.

France coach Raymond Domenech, already hanging on to his job by a thread, must have been fearing the worst when Romania led 2-0 with less than 17 minutes on the clock courtesy of Florentin Petre and Dorin Goian.

However, Franck Ribery marked his return from injury nine minutes before half-time and Yoann Gourcuff scored his first international goal in the 69th minute to level matters.

Domenech will learn his fate after the French Football Federation's meeting on Wednesday, while Romania boss Victor Piturca will also be sweating on his future.

Austria also have four points after they were held to a 1-1 draw in the Faroe Islands.

Bogi Lokin fired the hosts into a shock lead just two minutes into the second half, but Austria responded within 120 seconds when Martin Stranzl levelled the scores.

However, the islanders clung on to take only their second competitive point in six years.