Crvena zvezda overcame the challenge of Armenian side Ararat in the Europa League Play-off and made it to the Group stage with a 2-1 win in Nicosia.
Aleksandar Katai and Diego Falcinelli got the goals for the blue-clad red and whites, but a late Mailson Lima strike ensured a nervy finish at the all-too-familiar GSP Stadium. Still, our team hang on and claimed a priceless victory that sees ur return to the UEL Group stage after a two-year absence.
Ground: GSP Stadium, Nicosia
Referee: Tasos Sidiropulos (Greece)
Goalscorers: Lima 72’ - Katai 45’, Falcinelli 60’
Ararat: Čupić, Alemao (65’ Otubano), Vakulenko, Meneses, Humanes, Sahinian (70’ Ambartsumian), Gouffran, Sanogo, Lima, Narsing, Martinez.
Substitutes: Abakumov, Kachuman, Ambartsumian, Harutjunian, Danijelan, Otubano, Alfons.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gajić, Pankov, Degenek, Rodić, Nikolić, Ivanić, Kanga (65’ Petrović), Ben (81’ Gobeljić), Katai (77’ Gavrić), Falcinelli.
Substitutes: Popović, Gobeljić, Milunović, Petrović, Spiridonović, Gavrić, Pavkov.
A nervy first half ended in the best possible way as Aleksandar Katai produced a moment of magic and got us ahead with a fine solo goal just before the break. He left all the defenders in his wake and hit a low shot that beat Serbian goalkeeper in the Ararat’s goal.
Zvezda looked determined to build on their lead after the break and Guélor Kanga came close on 51 minutes. It was the Italian striker Diego Falcinelli who banished his GSP Stadium blues from two weeks earlier as he hit an excellent header into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0 on the hour mark.
It wasn’t all straightforward for our team, however, as the Armenian side hit one back with around 20 minutes to go. Borjan saved from Otubano, but Mailson Lima was there to tuck in the rebound and provide us with a nervous ending to the match.
But our team held the ball well and showed maturity in the closing stages and never looked like going to the extra time.
The final whistle brought huge celebrations as our team ensured another season of playing in the group stage of a European competition – that’s now four seasons in a row!