BAKU (Reuters) - Serbia kept alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2008 finals after two goals from striker Nikola Zigic inspired them to a 6-1 away win over Azerbaijan in their Group A qualifier on Wednesday.

The result lifted Serbia to third in the group, level on 20 points from 12 matches with fourth-placed Finland before their home games with Kazakhstan and Poland next month.

Poland are in pole position with 24 points, one more than Portugal who boosted their bid after a 2-1 win in Kazakhstan.

Left back Dusko Tosic gave Serbia the start they wanted in the fourth minute after a one-two with Zigic, who doubled their lead in the 17th when he tucked in at the near post a perfect low cross by midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic.

The home side pulled one back after Samir Aliyev capitalised on a defensive blunder in the 26th minute and drilled the ball past the advancing keeper but the Serbs buried their hosts' hopes of a comeback with two quick goals shortly before the break.

Bosko Jankovic made it 3-1 with a ferocious long-range free kick and Zigic capped an excellent first half when he rounded the keeper and steered the ball home from a tight angle.

Substitute Milan Smiljanic capped his international debut with a piledriver from 25 metres to make it 5-1 before Danko Lazovic, who also came on in the second half, completed the scoring with a fine volley.