Crvena zvezda returned to the top of Serbian Superliga table after a convincing 4-1 win over Vojvodina.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 14.100
Referee: Dejan Santrač (Pavliš)
Goalscorers: Ruiz 11', Donald 58', Plavšić ‘63, Srnić 90' - Malbašić 43'
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Manojlović, Petković, L Tallec, Aleksandar Luković, Ristić, Donald, Poletanović, Kanga, Plavšić, Ruiz, Hugo Vieira.
Substitutes: Supić, Cvetković, Anđelković, Račić, Srnić, Sikimić, Orlandić.
Vojvodina: Kordić, Kovačević, Planić, Lakićević, Antić, Maksimović, Jovančić, Meleg, Paločević, Malbašić, Trujić.
Substitutes: Perić, Mićić, Puškarić, Babić, Zličić, Trifunović, Knežević.
After last week’s Večiti derbi defeat for Crvena zvezda, Vojvodina took full advantage and climbed above the reigning champions in the league. The Novi Sad club was still unbeaten ahead of their visit to Rajko Mitić Stadium and Nenad Lalatović’s men were determined to continue their good run in Belgrade.
But Zvezda seemed determined to banish the Derbi blues and started the match with great desire to attack. They were awarded with a goal after just 11 minutes as John Jairo Ruiz found the back of Kordić’s net with a precise low shot from outside the box to make it 1-0.
Hugo Vieira has had a great chance to double the lead minutes later as Plavšić headed a long ball neatly in the path of the little striker, but the Portuguese shot straight at Kordić with the goal at his mercy.
Vojvodina continued to threaten on the counter-attack and their tactics proved spot on minutes before the break. Kanga was dispossessed far too easily in his own half and the visitors moved forward swiftly and produced a chance for Filip Malbašić who made no mistake and finished past Manojlović from inside the box.
Despite conceding the equalizer late in the first half, Crvena zvezda played seemed unfazed and came out for the restart raring to go. They were back ahead on 58 minutes. Donald and Ruiz exchanged passes on the edge of the Vojvodina box and the former finished expertly to delight the home fans.
Just five minutes later the red-and-whites were further ahead. Ruiz darted toward the Kordić’s net, but was unable to get a proper shot in. The ball then fell for Kanga who hit the visiting goalkeeper, but there was no saving the rebound as Srđan Plavšić moved well and was on hand to sweep the ball into the net.
Vojvodina’s gameplan dissolved and Zvezda could have scored many goals in the reminding half-hour. Hugo Vieira in particular had chances, but was extremely unlucky.
Substitute Slavoljub Srnić made it 4-1 in the 90th minute after a Srđan Plavšić cross from the left flank. Srnić chested it down and hit a half-volley which Kordić couldn’t keep out despite getting a hand on it.
The final whistle marked the return of the Belgrade club to the summit of the table to the delight of Zvezda fans.