Crvena zvezda beat FK Sūduva 2-0 in Marijampolė to secure safe passage to UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round and set up a clash with Slovakia's Spartak Trnava.
Ground: Stadium of Marijampolė
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Tiago Martins (Portugal)
Goalscorers: Ben 8', Radonjić 38'
Teams:
FK Sūduva Marijampolė: Kardum, Švrljuga, Leimonas, Jankauskas, Živanović, Slavickas, Finkler, Matulevičijus, Verbickas, Vėževičius, Cicilia.
Substitutes: Aleksandrov-Ridley, Činikas, Gaiduchik, Isoda, Kasparavičius, Acevedo, Dybal
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Degenek, Savić, Rodić, Krstičić, Jovičić, Srnić, Ben, Radonjić, Milić.
Substitutes: Popović, Ebecilio, Babić, Stojiljković, Jovančić, Jevtović, Gobeljić.
El Fardou Ben Nabouhane made it a perfect start to the match as he fired Zvezda in front after just eight minute with a long-range shot to easy any nerved for the Serbian side.
The hosts didn't give up, however, and they did their best to return to the game, controlling the ball and trying to create a chance. But the best they could do in the first 45 minutes was a header by Cicilia that was cleared from within the six-yard box by Filip Stojković.
Nemanja Radonjić was in great mood as he tormented Sūduva defenders with some trickery down the left. And it was Radonjić who made it 2-0 on the night just before the break. Nenad Krstičić showed great anticipation to cut off a Sūduva pass and charge forward with Radonjić creating and opening to his left. Krstičić slid a well-weighted pass into the path of Radonjić, who controlled it and took a moment before firing a low finish that went into the side-netting at the far post.
Second half was merely a formality with the champions of Serbia holding a hefty 5-0 lead on aggregate.
We've seen Nikola Stojiljković, Marko Gobeljić and Lorenzo Ebecilio come on in place of Nemanja Milić, Milan Rodić and Slavoljub Srnić, respectively.
There were hardly any chances in the remaining 45 minutes as Zvezda did just enough to prevent Sūduva from scoring.
Crvena zvezda cruised to claim another win and a welcome clean sheet, sixth in as many games so far this season.
We will meet champions of Slovakia FC Spartak Trnava in the next round. The games are set to be played on 7 August in Belgrade and on 14 August in Trnava.