Crvena zvezda came from behind to put five past Javor Matis and secure another three points as another Superliga title comes near.
Ground: Gradski stadion u Ivanjici
Referee: Lazar Lukić
Goalscorers: Luković 4’ - Katai 8’, 31’, Milunović 65’, Ben 72’, Falco 82’
Javor: Velimirović, Jevtić, Ostojić, Pavišić, Jevremović, Maričić (67’ Rušević), Doucoure, Nikolić (77’ Vico), Šćepanović (77’ Balabanović), Ilić, Luković (77’ Zvekanov).
Substitutes not used: Babić, Jovanović, Basarić, Stojanović, Tanko, Jelić.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gajić, Pankov, Milunović (80’ Gobeljić), Rodić, Petrović, Kanga, Ivanić (80’ Vukanović), Ben (75’ Falco), Katai (71’ Srnić), Krstović (71’ Pavkov).
Substitutes not used: Popović, Degenek, Sanogo, Nikolić, Gavrić.
Relegation-threatened Javor started well in their home match against the champions and were ahead just four minutes in. However, our players wouldn’t allow this early setback to keep them from playing their brand of football.
Javor’s lead lasted only four minutes. Aleksandar Katai struck a sublime free kick from around 20 metres out. It flew into the top corner with Boris Velimirović unable to reach it. Milan Gajić nearly scored a rare goal when he let fly from around 30 metres out but the ‘keeper just managed to keep it out. Nikola Krstović tried to mark a rare start with a goal but Velimirović kept the young Montenegro striker out.
We were ahead just after the half hour mark when Katai tucked a rebound in to make it 2-1. It was a crushing blow for the hosts who hardly looked like getting back into the game.
Zvezda kept pushing forward after the break and came close through Ben and Petrović. The third goal came on 65 minutes after Guélor Kanga put in a fine cross in for Nemanja Milunović to head into the net. Rodić and Ivanić combined well on 72 minutes and the latter delivered a tasty cross for Ben to finish off at the far post and increase our lead to 4-1.
Filippo Falco came off the bench and finished off a fine team move to make it five and round off a well-deserved Crvena zvezda win – our 19th Superliga maximum in a row.