Superliga season started on a warm Friday night in Belgrade and Vladan Milojević's team made sure Crvena zvezda mark this new beginning with a win.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 5,186
Referee: Ilija Brdar
Goalscorers: Jovančić 41', Joveljić 52', Jevtović 76'
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Popović, Gobeljić, Degenek, Babić, Terzić, Jovičić, Jovančić, Meleg, Ebecilio, Jevtović, Joveljić.
Substitutes: Supić, Savić, Stojković, Milijaš, Pavkov, Milić, Ben.
Dinamo: U Đurić, Ilić, Onimisi, Tasić, Vukajlović, Dimitrov, Suraka, N Đurić, Antić, Sićović, Pavišić.
Substitutes: Lakić, Stanković, Nedeljković, Spasić, Stojković, Radivojević, Stevanović.
Newly-promoted Dinamo side started this game well and hit the post early on through Suraka.
Shortly after, however, the visitors were forced to retreat and defend against some searching passes on either flank.
Marko Gobeljić captained the team and has done well to drive the team forward in a bid to break down the visiting team.
Young Dejan Joveljić led the line with help from Meleg and Jevtović on the wings. After a few attack that weren't really finished well, breakthrough came on 41 minutes. Miloš Degenek headed against the post from a right-hand side free kick. Dušan Jovančić was well-positioned and he slammed home from the edge of the area to give Zvezda the lead.
Milan Jevtović nearly doubled the lead just minutes later as he danced around defenders and dispatched a low finish that was well blocked by Uroš Đurić.
Zvezda's opener was scored at just the right time as it gave the team momentum that was carried into the second half.
Dejan Joveljić made it 2-0 seven minutes after the break as he pounced on a loose ball after a Lorenzo Ebecilio's effort had been blocked. He nearly grabbed another shortly after. He ran onto a through ball on the right flank and rounded the onrushing goalkeeper with a clever touch. Unfortunately, he couldn't find the empty net from a narrow angle and it went just wide of the near post.
That man Joveljić was presented with another fine chance just before the hour mark when he ran onto a through ball rounded the goalkeeper, but couldn't slot the ball into an empty net from a narrow angle.
Milan Jevtović completed the scoring on 76 minutes with a fine curled finish into the top corner after a good pass by Nenad Milijaš. It was clear how much it meant to him as he celebrated with the fans.
It was a fine win for the champions, who now look to prepare for Tuesday's Champions League Second Qualifying Round clash with Lithuanian champions FK Sūduva Marijampolė.