Crvena zvezda completed a fine week for the club with a confident performance and a 3-0 win over Borac. It was a fitting result on a day the team said goodbye to Rajko Mitić Stadium for year 2017.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 5,389
Referee: Ilija Brdar (Novi Sad)
Goalscorers: Adžić 36', Pešić 50', 63'.
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Babić, Frimpong, Rodić, Račić, Jovičić, Milijaš, Srnić, Adžić, Pešić.
Substitutes: Supić, Savić, Gobeljić, Krstičić, Ricardinho, Boakye, Joveljić.
Borac: Bajić, Obradović, Marinković, Delić, Otašević, Marković, Zoćević, Mateus Lima, Filipović, Knežević.
Substitutes: Mišić, Sajčić, Savić, Propadalo, Krstić, Tripković, Sekulić.
Vladan Milojević gave a rest to some of the players who starred in the Europa League on Thursday. Centre-back pairing of Frimpong and Babić again proved more than competent in the absence of Le Tallec and Savić.
Nenad Milijaš led the team from midfield that featured Jovičić, Račić, Srnić and Adžić and Aleksandar Pešić did well as the lone striker.
It was the unselfish in-form hitman Pešić who turned provider for young Luka Adžić on 35 minutes. Even though he was left with only 'keeper to beat, Pešić spotted the onrushing Adžić and rolled the ball into winger's path for an easy finish.
The red-and-whites never looked like surrendering the lead on an evening Milan Borjan hardly had a save to make.
The points were all but secured five minutes after the break when Pešić's effort was helped in by Borac's Otašević.
The best goal came on 63 minutes when Aleksandar Pešić turned and fired high into the far corner of Bajić's net to cap off his storming performance.
It was a big day for young Dejan Joveljić who came off the bench to make his senior Crvena zvezda debut. The young striker scored 33 goals for our youth teams this season and is already training with the first team. His future in the game looks promising and it was great to see him running out on Marakana pitch.
Head Coach Vladan Milojević was pleased for his players after the match and said that he always has belief in his team because the players have earned that trust.
There won't be much time to rest as we look forward to another Večiti derbi on Wednesday.