Crvena zvezda - Napredak 2:2 (0:1)

Crvena zvezda kicked off their Superliga season with a 2-2 draw versus FK Napredak. The Kruševac team arrived to Rajko Mitić Stadium and stunned the champions with two goals on either side of half time, but the red-and-whites rallied and saved a point.

Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium.
Attendance: 6,500.
Referee: Vlado Glođović.
Goalscorers: Plavšić 60', Sikimić 81' - Gobeljić 42', Vukanović 47'.

Teams:

Crvena zvezda: Kahriman, Petković, Phibel, Aleksandar Luković, Ristić, Le Tallec, Poletanović, Srnić, Ruiz, Plavšić, Sikimi.
Substitutions: Supić, Cvetković, Rendulić, Anđelković, Babunski, Mouche, Vieira.

Napredak: Petrović, Varga, Projić, Simonović, Frimpong, Šljivić, Markoski, Vulić, Gobeljić, Urošević, N'Diaye.
Substitutions: Janković, Ilić, Vukanović, Beljić, Jesse Sekidika, Filipović, Lemajić.

Miodrag Božović's men started the match well and had chances through Slavoljub Srnić early on, but Napredak defenders threw their bodies on the line and kept the score at 0-0. Just as the home team was running out of steam late in the first half, Napredak made the most of a midfield scramble and sent a deep ball for Gobeljić. The forward outrun a couple of Crvena zvezda players and finished well past Kahriman to make it 0-1 on 42 minutes.

And this wasn't the last shock because Napredak struck once more just after the break. Aleksa Vukanović, who only came on two minutes earlier, was given too much space by the home defence and he took that chance, rounding Damir Kahriman and tucking the ball into the empty net.

Zvezda never gave up, though, and it was Srđan Plavšić who halved the deficit and restored the belief to the home fans and players alike. The tricky midfielder grabbed the ball 30 meters from Napredak goal, escaped his marker and slammed a rocket of a shot from around 25 meters in the top right corner of the Petrović's goal. To the surprise of most Zvezda fans, Plavšić was replaced moments later by Pablo Mouche. Hugo Vieira was also brought on in place of Srnić as Zvezda kept pressing.

Crvena zvezda Belgrade drew level on 81 minutes through Predrag Sikimić. It was Pablo Mouche who created the goal with a great run and cross from the right wing. The Argentinean went past his marker and delivered a pinpoint cross for Sikimić who made no mistake and headed home to equalize.

Both teams had their chances to secure the points, but Le Tallec's diving header and Vieira's overhead kick were just off target. On the other end, Kahriman made a late save to ensure Zvezda don't start their Superliga campaign with a home defeat.

The match ended with the score level at 2-2 and left Miodrag Božović and his players again looking to a European clash, away at Ludogorets on Tuesday night.

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