Former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic struck twice as Yugoslavia came from behind to beat Malta 4-1 in Salonika to go top of Group Eight.

Saliba gave Malta a sixth-minute lead to give the Yugoslavs a scare, but Predrag Mijatovic equalised in the 34th minute.

Milosevic fired Yugoslavia ahead three minutes into the second-half, and former Sheffield Wednesday striker Darko Kovacevic made it 3-1 16 minutes from time.

Milosevic wrapped up victory with a second goal in the last minute as Yugoslavia now top the group with nine points, ahead of Macedonia and Croatia on seven points and the Republic of Ireland with six.

Mick McCarthy's side tackle Macedonia at Lansdowne Road tonight knowing they can go top if they win by two clear goals.