Crvena zvezda finished this succesful season with a 2-0 victory over Radnički Niš and proved once more that they are the best team in the country. The fans arrived in their numbers to say thank you to the players for some terrific performances.
Venue: Stadion „Rajko Mitić“ („Marakana“)
Attendance: 42,300
Referee: Majo Vujović (from Novi Sad)
Goalscorers: Orlandić 75' and Katai 82' for Crvena zvezda
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Kahriman, Petković, Rendulić, Luković, Ibanez, Donald, Le Tallec, Grujić, Katai, Srnić, Vieira.
Subs: Supić, Cvetković, Anđelković, Ristić, Plavšić, Babunski, Orlandić.
Radnički: Jovanović, Bulatović, Tomić, Đuričković, Petrović, Mrkić, Marjanović, Jovanović, Lakić-Pešić, Apostolović, Bulatović.
Subs: Konovalov, Stevanović, L Mitrovič, Đorđević, Todorović, N Mitrović.
It's been an evening of celebrations after what has been a long season. The red-and-whites grabbed that top spot and held on to it throughout the season, breaking many records along the way. For all this the players and Head Coach Miodrag Božović have been praised and serenaded by the Zvezda faithful.
The visitors from Niš didn't arrive only to witness the party, though. They were chasing a European spot and needed to win tonight. But it was the home team who started the game with more desire and were presented with a great chance to take the lead when Vieira was fouled in the Radnički box on 13 minutes. It was the unlikely figure of Marko Petković who placed the ball on the spot, but he blazed the kick over the crossbar. The right back's evening went from bad to worse just minutes before the break when he was forced off with a serious ankle injury.
The introduction of Srđan Plavšić after the break brought some more flair into Božović's side and it was the little winger who nearly put Zvezda in front after a beautiful run by Katai, but the ball was cleared off the line.
The breakthrough came on 75 minutes when substitute Petar Orlandić hammered a header beyond Jovanović after a precise left-flank cross by Luis Ibanez. The crowd celebrated passionately with Zvezda on course for another victory.
Aleksandar Katai secured the points eight minutes from time after a great run and low finish from just inside the box. This goal also meant that it was the attacking midfielder who's the best goalscorer of the league with an amazing tally of 21.
At the end of the match there was a huge fireworks display as the players and fans alike celebrated the 27th league title for Crvena zvezda Belgrade. We are the champions!