An excellent all-around performance and a convincing 5-1 win at Inđija saw Zvezda come within a single win of retaining the title.
Ground: Gradski stadion, Inđija
Referee: Srđan Jovanović
Goalscorers: Bastajić 64 - Nikolić 5, Pavkov 21, 23, Falco 45, Falcinelli 60
Inđija: Jovičić, Cucin, Đurić (46 Riznić), Škorić (46 Đorđević), Bastajić, Jovanović, Aleksić (68 Pantelić), Protić (80 Kami), Bakić, Nešković, Dimitrov (80 Džobe) .
Substitutes not used: Novaković, Čalov, Nedeljković, Radić.
Crvena zvezda: Popović, Gajić, Pankov, Milunović (6. Degenek), Rodić (61 Vukanović), Petrović, Nikolić, Srnić, Falco (61 Gavrić), Falcinelli (77 Krstović), Pavkov (61 Kanga).
Substitutes not used: Borjan, Ivanić, Ben.
Our team got off to a perfect start against the green-whites of Inđija and were ahead within five minutes of the kick-off. Veljko Nikolić controlled the ball nicely before darting a shot into the net from around 20 meters out. The goal set the tone nicely and red and whites never looked back.
Milan Pavkov got the second from the penalty spot after the ref had spotted a Milenko Škorić handball in the area. The famed Liverpool slayer was in a good mood in Inđija sunshine as he hammered the penalty in with power. And he got his second just two minutes later when Milan Rodić squared nicely for the big striker to sweep home. The scoreline read 3-0 to the visitors with only a quarter of the match gone.
Filippo Falco marked his start with a goal as he combined with Milan Gajić on the right hand side of the box before finding the net with a classy half-volley from Gajić's lay-off. Four-nil at the break!
Another Italian joined the party on the hour mark. Diego Falcinelli found the corner to make it five. The match slowed down considerably after the fifth goal, with our team only hitting the crossbar through substitute Željko Gavrić.
The hosts managet to get a consolation goal through captain Bastajić from the spot.
It was a cool win for Dejan Stanković's team who could secure the title as early as Thursday with a win over Vojvodina.