Crvena zvezda beat Rad 3-0 to complete a successful week and maintain fine form in the Superliga. Our striking partnership of Pavkov and Boakye was back in action after some time out and both players celebrated by scoring.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Ground
Referee: Andrija Stojanović
Goalscorers: Pavkov 17’, Boakye 41’, Spiridonović 59’
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gajić (60’ Radulović), Pankov (60’ Milunović), Degenek, Eraković, Sanogo (60’ Petrović), Nikolić, Spiridonović, Gavrić, Boakye (76’ Krstović), Pavkov (76’ Lazetić).
Substitutes: Popović, Milunović, Hajdin, Petrović, Simić, Bačanin, Ben, Radulović, Falcinelli, Krstović, Lazetić.
Rad: Kahriman, Đorić, Stojanović (46’ Lazarević), Damnjanović (65’ Blažić), Jovanović, Ciger (65’ Radivojević), Busnić, Živković (71’ Ilić), Riznić (46’ Trifunović), Stojsavljević, Trninić.
Substitutes: Marković, Tanović, Gazivoda, Miličković, Kovačević, Lazarević, Trifunović, Bajić, Blažić, Radivojević, Ilić.
There was a minute of silence for the recently departed legend Diego Armando Maradona, a player who inspired us and who once scored a beautiful chipped goal at our pitch. Rest in peace, Diego. You will not be forgotten.
Milan Pavkov showed that his goalscoring instinct is still very much there as he pounced to prod home from close range on 17 minutes, beating former Crvena zvezda goalkeeper Damir Kahriman.
Srđan Spiridonović was full of energy all night as he tormented Rad’s defenders with his runs and trickery. He created a perfect chance for Richmond Boakye as he slid in a low cross from the right. The ball evaded Rad’s players and the Ghanaian striker was left with a simple tap-in. It was the Black Star’s first goal in a year and his smile afterwards told how important it was. Welcome back, Richie!
Boakye returned the favor to Srđan Spiridonović on the hour mark as he slid a nice ball into the path of onrushing ‘Speedy’, who took a touch before finishing in style past Kahriman to make it 3-0.
It was a special night for a Zvezda boy as well. Young Marko Lazetić made his debut at the age of 16. It will be a day he will cherish forever. He was unlucky not to score his first goal on the same night as he hit the post late on.
Our next match is home encounter with Hoffenheim as our team seeks to ensure European football after the upcoming winter break.