Crvena zvezda showed the quality and determination to overturn first-leg deficit and eliminate Kairat from the Champions League qualifications. Goals from Katai, Diony, Ivanić and Falco delighted the young fans on a hot night in Belgrade.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 20,000
Goalscorers: Katai 9, 42, Diony 21, Ivanić 49, Falco 56
Referee: Andris Treimanis (Latvia).
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić (58 Gajić), Pankov, Dragović, Rodić, Sanogo, Kanga (78 Krstičić), Falco (67 Ben), Ivanić, Katai (78 Lazetić), Diony (67 Krstović).
Substitutes not used: Popović, Babić, Degenek, Lazetić, Srnić, Bakayoko.
Kairat: Ustimenko, Mikanović (34 Alykulov), Dugalić (77 Shirobokov), Alip, Vorogovski, Buranchiev (63 Ulsin), Abiken, Polyakov, Hovhanisyan, Shushenachev (63 Alves), Love.
Substitutes not used: Anarbekov, Kante, Mitrofanov, Anet, Ibragimov.
There are nights when everything goes right - and this was one of those. Crvena zvezda made it to the Third qualifying round despite suffering a 2-1 in the first leg a week ago in Almaty. Five goals with no reply was just what the team and the supporters needed after a somewhat shaky start to the season.
Aleksandar Katai was in the mood tonight as he bagged two goals and tormented the Kazakhstani defenders. His first was a curler from outside the box that nestled in the far corner of Ustimenko's net inside the opening ten minutes. It was the goal that made the aggregate score level and have us a platform to build on as the visitors no longer had a lead to defend.
Loïs Diony scored his first goal for the club after a wonderful pass from Aleksandar Dragović. The French striker, who arrived from SCO Angers on loan prior to the season chested the ball down and took a touch before finding the far low corner from outside the area. Katai composed himself and placed a perfect free kick into the net to make it 3-0 on the night and give us a two-goal cushion on aggregate. It was all Zvezda as the visitors looked dazed and confused.
Mirko Ivanić got his goal just after the break after some good work from Milan Rodić. The lad from Bački Jarak slammed in off the underside of the crossbar to make it 4-0.
Filippo Falco has had a terrific game - probably his best in a Crvena zvezda shirt since joining from Lecce in January. The Italian was full of running and showed some magical touches. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet sooner, but he did so on 56 minutes with a beautiful curled left-footer from the edge of the box.
Five goals scored, none conceded. It was a fantastic night. But there is no time to enjoy this result as games start to come thick and fast.
We will meet Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova in the next round of Champions League qualifications.