Crvena zvezda started this season’s European competition with a good 5-0 win over Europa FC of Gibraltar. Ben starred as he scored a hat-trick before Mirko Ivanić added a brace to dispatch a motivated and well-drilled side from the Rock.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Referee: Volen Chinkov (Bulgaria)
Goalscorers: Ben 35’, 44’, 52’, Ivanić 78’, 87’
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić, Degenek, Milunović, Rodić (46’ Gajić), Sanogo (74’ Vulić), Ivanić, Katai, Kanga, Spiridonović (67’ Tomané), Ben,
Substitutes: Popović, Gajić, Pankov, Vulić, Boakye, Tomané, Petrović.
Europa: Munoz, Badr, Casado, Aviles, Olivero, Walker, Rosa, Cortes (70’ Quillo), Gallego (64’ Vasquez), Valdes (60’ Arbelo), Dominguez.
Substitutes: Belluga, Lopez, Moreno, Quillo, Yome, Arbelo, Vasquez.
Last season’s champions of Gibraltar proved difficult to break down as they managed to keep Zvezda out for more than half an hour, defending well and mounting an occasional foray into hosts’ territory.
Ben had the first real chance for our team on 12 minutes, but he headed wide from a good position. The Comorian forward, who led the line in absence of out-and-out strikers showed great desire to get into positions and make his team’s possession count.
Ben opened the scoring on 35 mins as he poked home from close range after a Zvezda corner. The first goal was always going to be important in a game such as this and it meant a big step towards an expected victory.
Ben reacted quickly to divert a Miloš Degenek’s fierce shot beyond Munoz and into the net just before the break.
Just seven minutes into the second half our Comorian star claimed a hat-trick. Spiridonović did most of the work down the right and squared perfectly for Ben to sidefoot into the net and make it 3-0.
Our team continued to dominate the match and Mirko Ivanić showed great agility to dispossess Casado and beat Munoz one-on-one with some 15 minutes still left.
The former BATE and Vojvodina midfielder grabbed another goal nine minutes later as he finished off a slick Crvena zvezda move.
A 5-0 win was a fine result in our first outing in Europe in the 2020/21 season and Dejan Stanković’s men will be looking to reach the group stage again.