Crvena zvezda produced a fine performance on Thursday night to beat AC Sparta Prague 2-0 in the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round First Leg. This is a very good result to hold ahead of the return match.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 32,816
Referee: Sergei Lapochkin (Russia)
Goalscorers: Boakye 13', Kanga 65'
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Savić, Le Tallec, Rodić, Jovičić, Donald, Milić, Kanga, Ricardinho, Boakye.
Substitutes: Kahriman, Babić, Gobeljić, Milijaš, Adžić, Radonjić, Pešić.
AC Sparta Prague: Dúbravka, Karavaev, Kaya, Štetina, Vătăjelu, Mandjeck, Mareček, Frýdek, Plavšić, Juliš, Janko.
Substitutes: Koubek, Čivić, Ben Chaim, Sáček, Lafata, Mavuba, Zahustel.
What a night at our stadium! Vladan Milojević's team gave the fans hope that our club can once more produce results in Europe. Visitors from Czech Republic were well beaten on a day where almost everything went right for the red-and-whites.
African duo of Kanga and Boakye were directly responsible for Zvezda's goals, but it really was a team effort. Our players came out on the pitch looking focused and hungry and they were all over Sparta from the off.
Early pressure paid off on 13 minutes when Richmond Boakye finished cooly after Kanga's quicky taken free kick. Ghanaian striker timed his run perfectly to stay onside. A well-taken set-piece by Milojević's men.
A well-organized Zvezda side were clearly given the right instructions and they looked solid at the back and dangerous upfront. Vujadin Savić and Damien Le Tallec continued to impress and were rarely troubled by Sparta's experienced goalscorer Marc Janko.
Second half brought spells of possesion for the visitors, but they were unable to create real chances.
Serbian club was 2-0 up on 65 minutes when Guélor Kanga struck from well outside the area to send Marakana into raptures. Boakye controlled a long pass and layed it off for the Gabonese playmaker who took a touch before curling a shot that shaved the underside of Dúbravka's crossbar and ended up in the net. The crowd went wild as Crvena zvezda improved their chances of reaching the group stage of the competition.
Nemanja Radonjić looked lively when brought on and was unlucy no to score.
There was no more goals scored by Zvezda, but Milojević will be pleased with another clean sheet.
The match ended with 2-0 the scorline. It was a great team performance. Another will be needed in a week's time.
Well done, boys!