An excellent first-half performance set Crvena zvezda on course to a important Večiti derbi win at Rajko Mitić Stadium. Goals from Nemanja Radonjić and Aleksandar Pešić were enough to ensure the points and Partizan could only score a consolation penalty deep into injury time.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadum
Attendance: 35,131
Referee: Danilo Grujić
Goalscorers: Radonjić 18', Pešić 21' – Ožegović 96'
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Babić, Le Tallec, Rodić, Jovičić, Krstičić, Radonjić, Ben, Srnić, Pešić.
Substitutes: Supić, Frimpong, Gobeljić, Donald, Adžić, Račić, Milijaš.
Partizan: Stojković, Vulićević, Mitrović, N R Miletić, N G Miletić, Đerlek, Zdjelar, Pantić, Janković, Tawamba, Ožegović.
Substitutes: Jovičić, Urošević, Jevtović, Vakulko, Tošić, Soumah, Ivanović.
Head Coach Vladan Milojević set his team up brilliantly as the red-and-whites dominated the play right from the kick off. Nenad Krstičić and Branko Jovičić were immense in the middle of the park and their energy allowed the attacking players to really put the visitors to the sword.
Breakthrough came on 18 minutes as Nemanja Radonjić ran at Partizan's defence and placed a fine low effort into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Just two minutes later Crvena zvezda were 2-0 up after a quick counter-attack that was finished by Aleksandar Pešić.
Partizan were lucky not to ge behind even further after being inferior for large parts of the game.
But a second half brought a nervous 45 minutes where hardly any chances were seen on either side.
Sadly, away fans set fire to seats in the South Stand and tried to confront the fans in other sections that stopped play for a fee minutes and spoiled the occasion for most football fans in the country.
Thankfully, Milojević's players kept their cool for most of the game and it was only a last-minute lapse in concentration that allowed Partizan to score from the penalty spot. A spot of disturbance followed and saw Mitchell Donald and Seydouba Soumah both sent off after an inappropriate exchange. But there wasn’t any more chance for the visitors to try and claim a late leveller as Zvezda fans celebrated an important win.
This result means Crvena zvezda are now nine points clear ahead of second-placed Partizan in the Superliga Play-off with six matchdays remaining.
Well done, Vladan Milojević and the boys!