After a draw in Niš and a defeat in Naples, Crvena zvezda put Voždovac to the sword to claim an important 2-0 win and return to winning ways.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 8,123
Referee: Petar Piper
Goalscorers: Ebecilio 28’, Ben 32’
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić, Degenek, Babić, Rodić, Jovančić (Čaušić 59’), Krstičić, Ben, Ebecilio, Simić (Marin 59’), Pavkov (Boakye 79').
Voždovac: Ilić, Maksimović (Mašović 76'), Kovačević, Mihajlov, Purtić, Pavlović (Zličić 63'), Luković, Jovanović, Stuparević, Ćirković, Milunović (Duronjić 63').
Milan Pavkov returned to the starting eleven along with Dušan Jovančić and Lorenzo Ebecilio for a strong-looking Crvena zvezda line-up following midweek exploits in the Champions League.
And it looked like this was going to be a red and white night from minute one as Vladan Milojević’s team controlled the possession and passed the ball around nicely.
Nenad Krstičić, tonight’s Crvena zvezda captain, tried his luck from 30 meters early on, but his shot whistled wide of Ilić’s left stanchion.
El Fardou Ben Nabouhane and Lorenzo Ebecilio combined well on 12 minutes to send Milan Pavkov through on goal, but Marko Ilić rushed out to meet him and kept the shot out well.
Midway through the first half Simić and Ben had attempts in quick succession as Zvezda pushed forward, but Voždovac somehow kept their net. But just minutes after that, Zvezda were ahead. Marko Gobeljić delivered a perfect cross for Ebecilio and the Dutchman steered it into the far corner to give his team the lead.
It was 2-0 just four minutes later as El Fardou Ben stayed onside and pounced onto a Milan Pavkov knock-down to hook it beyond Ilić and double the lead.
Milan Borjan in Zvezda’s goal had little to do, but he showed that he’s alert on 39 minutes as he dived to his left to keep a Miloš Mihajlov header out.
Second half yielded no goals as Zvezda put the foot off the accelerator and the visitors unable to convert few chances they’ve created.
Among the positives, there were the introduction of Goran Čaušić and Richmond Boakye, after the duo has returned from their respective injuries.
It’s a deserved victory for the red and whites, who will travel to Subotica to face Spartak as early as Wednesday.