Crvena zvezda scored three second-half goals in Novi Sad to beat Vojvodina after trailing 2-0 at half time. It was a remarkable turnaround after a rather poor first half.
Ground: Karađorđe
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Danilo Grujić
Goalscorers: Meleg 5', Puškarić 9' - Le Tallec 50', Boakye 61', Puškarić (og) 70'
Teams:
Vojvodina: Rohov, Antić, Planić, Babić, Vukasović, Lakićević, Maslać, Meleg, Puškarić, Malbašić, Paločević.
Substitutes: Kordić, Kovačević, Zličić, Đorđević, Knežević, Trujić, Spremo.
Crvena zvezda: Manojlović, Petković, Luković, Frimpong, Anđelković, Donald, Le Tallec, Kanga, Plavšić, Ruiz, Boakye.
Substitutes: Supić, Milijaš, Poletanović, Milić, Adžić, Sikimić, Vujaklija.
In-form Vojvodina started the game brilliantly and were 2-0 ahead inside ten minutes.
Captain Dejan Meleg won the ball in midfield and played a nice through ball to Paločević, who crossed low for Malbašić. The former Partizan striker's shot was blocked by Manojlović, but Meleg was there to tuck the ball into the empty net and put Vojvodina ahead.
It got even worse for Božović and his players just four minutes later when Puškarić volleyed home unmarked when Zvezda defence failed to clear their lines after a corner. It was 2-0 with nine minutes played and Crvena zvezda were facing a huge test of character.
Richmond Boakye shot over from a decent Plavšić cross on 19 minutes as the visitors looked for a way back into the match. Another good chance fell to John Jairo Ruiz around the half hour mark, but the Costa Rican international couldn't beat Rohov.
The home team protected their two-goal lead well enough and were close to extending it furter just before half time through Meleg, but Mitchell Donald did well to get there just in time to block.
It was truly a game of two halves in Novi Sad as Crvena zvezda players returned from the half time break looking determined to grab an early goal and really get back into the game. And it's just what they've done just six minutes after the restart. Srđan Plavšić lobbed a ball into the Vojvodina box. The home players failed to clear it and it fell nicely for Damien Le Tallec to prod home from close range. The Frenchman only got slightest of touches, but it was thankfully enough to find the net. Deficit was halved and it was very much game on with 40 minutes remaining.
The momentum shifted and suddenly it was the home side looking increasingly nervous as Crvena zvezda, clad in their grey away kit, started to boss the game. And their efforts were awarded on 61 minutes when Anđelković crossed perfectly for Boakye. The Ghanaian striker's header was strong and precise and it left Rohov with no chance. The comeback was complete, but Zvezda wouldn't settle for just a point.
Darko Puškarić went from hero to villain as his poor reaction resulted in an own goal with just eight minutes left on the clock. He tried to deal with a cross in Vojvodina's box, but his sliced clearance ended up in Rohov's net.
What a turnaround it was! But Zvezda still needed their goalkeeper Filip Manojlović to produce a classy save from Trujić late on and keep his side in front
The final whistle was greeted by jubilation from the away fans as Crvena zvezda recorded an important win and remained six points clear at the top of the Superliga table.