Veljko Simić and Ben were on target at just the right moments to ensure Crvena zvezda cruise to a victory over a tough Napredak side in Belgrade.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 10,218
Referee: Aleksandar Vasić
Goalscorers: Simić 13', Veškovac (og) 60’, Ben 79’
Crvena zvezda: Popović, Gobeljić, Stojković, Degenek, Rodić, Jovančić (Jovičić 61’), Krstičić, Ben, Ebecilio (Marin 61’), Simić, Pavkov (Boakye 75’).
Napredak: Ni. Petrović, Boranijašević, Veškovac, Marinković, Ne. Petrović, Baha (Eskić 81’), Kostić, N'Diaye (Rušević 12’), Vulić, Vukanović, Alivodić (Zec 77’).
It was a rainy day in Belgrade, but pitch at our stadium was in perfect condition for this meeting of two in-form sides.
Crvena zvezda started the match brightly and got a goal on 13 minutes as Veljko Simić fired low into Petrović's net from around 20 meters out. It was a fine finish from the pacey winger.
Milan Pavkov came close to doubling the lead just minutes later, but his header cannoned off the bar and behind. Lorenzo Ebecilio thought he’d scored on 26 minutes, but his shot just cleared the bar as Zvezda continued to dominate.
Simić and Ebecilio combined well again with ten minutes remaining in the first half as the former escaped through the middle and sent a perfect diagonal pass into the path on the latter, but the Dutchman fired just off target. It would have been a terrific goal!
Lorenzo Ebecilio was in a great mood and came even closer just before the break as he slammed a right-footed free kick against the bar.
Napredak started the second half brightly, but were undone by an own goal from Dušan Veškovac on the hour mark. Ben delivered a corner and Veškovac put the ball into his own net with a poor touch.
Zvezda never looked back and El Fardou Ben Nabouhane got his goal with 10 minutes to go as he finished powerfully with his left foot from around 12 meters out.
Second half substitutions saw a welcome return by midfielder Branko Jovičič, with Marko Marin and Richmond Boakye also getting some playing time.
It was a convincing win in what turned out to be a very entertaining match on a wet Saturday night.
Crvena zvezda will now prepare for Tuesday’s visit of Paris Saint-Germain.