Milan Pavkov and Vujadin Savić struck early on to set Zvezda on course to a fine 3-1 win in Bačka Palanka. The hosts managed to get a goal back, but were ultimately undone by a Filip Stojković strike.
Ground: Slavko Maletić Vava
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Dragan Čolović
Goalscorers: Radović 15' - Pavkov 7', Savić 11', Stojković 61'
Bačka: Zogović, Gojković, Jovanović, Žarković, Bjeloš, Gavrić, Ilić, Pantić, Radinović, Tomić, Radović.
Substitutes: Milojević, Đurić, Kuveljić, Balabanović, Marković, Micić, Žakula.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Savić, Babić, Rodić, Čaušić, Jovančić, Ben, Ivanić, Simić, Pavkov.
Substitutes: Popović, Milunović, Jovičić, Marin, Vulić, Vukanović, Boakye.
Vladan Milojević made slight alterations to his starting eleven, with Srđan Babić getting the nod in centre of defence and Pavkov playing as the lone striker.
Zvezda struck twice early on through Pavkov and Savić and the scoreline read 0-2 after just 11 minutes of play. Pavkov bundled the ball home from close range before captain Vujadin Savić headed in his first goal for the club.
Bačka were certainly up for a fight and they did get one back just minutes later as Nikola Radović finished well to reduce the score to 2-1.
Ben and Ivanić came close before the break, but their attempts were blocked by defenders and goalkeeper Zogović, respectively. Milan Rodić thought he'd scored just to see his goalbound header cleared off the line by Radinović.
The champions continued to dominate after the break with Pavkov coming close on 57 minutes. But the third goal did come shortly. Marko Marin, who had just come on, player a perfect ball in for Filip Stojković and the defender finished low as if he were a seasoned striker!
The third goal effectively killed the match off with Bačka unable to get back into it again. Vukanović and Boakye were given a chance in the second half and they nearly combined for a late fourth.
It remained 3-1, however, and the red and whites celebrated the win in what was our final away match in the regular season of Superliga.