Red and whites produced a fine first-half performance to score three past Mačva and secure the points with no drama. The visitors scored a consolation goal, but it was too late to get back in the game against a rampant Zvezda side.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 5,864
Referee: Dragan Čolović.
Goalscorers: Tomané 8’, Ben 32’, Cañas 37’ - Mijailović 83’
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gajić, Milunović, Degenek, Rodić (Pankov 60), Cañas (Petrović 81), Vulić, Ivanić, Ben, Van La Parra, Tomané (Krstović 72’)
Substitutes: Popović, Pankov, Babić, Petrović, Simić, Vukanović, Krstović.
Mačva: Puletić, Pejović, Tošić, Ivić (Božić 72), Jovanović, Jevtić, Marić (Šušnjar 56), Ašćerić, Mijailović, Jeremić (Stevanović 46), Milosavljević.
Substitutes: Lekić, Vujasin, Šušnjar, Dukić, Stevanović, Božić, Marinković.
Red and whites made it two wins in four days as midweek’s success was built upon with this good home performance.
Portuguese striker Tomane scored his first home goal for the club inside ten minutes as he pounced after a parried shot from Cañas and gave his team the lead.
The former Tondela hitman nearly doubled the lead on 22 minutes as he created a bit of space for himself on the left hand side of Mačva’s box. His shot was kept out by goalkeeper Puletić, however, and it remained 1-0.
Ben made it two goals in two games as he picked up a pass from Rajiv Van La Parra, rounded the ‘keeper and slotted in with some style.
Jose Alberto Canas opened his Crvena zvezda account as he got on the scoresheet minutes before the break. The Spaniard was clearly delighted with the goal!
Zvezda kept attacking after the break, albeit with a bit more caution. Ben came close with a 63rd-minute free kick, but it flew just wide of the post. Miloš Vulić tried to beat Puletić from long range minutes later, but the score remained 3-0.
It was Mačva who scored next, as the visitors reduced the scoreline to 3-1 through Mijailović following an almighty scramble in Zvezda’s penalty box.
It was a good win nonetheless as the red and whites prepare for their first Champions League match at home on Tuesday, with Greek giants Olympiacos set to arrive to Belgrade.