Crvena zvezda all but secured the Kup Srbije Final appearance with a convincing win over Mladost in the Semi Final First Leg in Belgrade.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 3,183
Referee: Bojan Nikolić
Goalscorers: Joveljić 12', Milunović 57', Pavkov 60', Ivanić 68' – Dimić 52'
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić, Milunović, Babić, Rodić, Ben, Čaušič, Vulić, Marin, Pavkov, Joveljić.
Mladost: Zečević, Pešić, Milošević, Šatara, Sinđić, Jevremović, Ristić, Markoski, Pavlović, Dimić, L Jovanović.
Dejan Joveljić showed early on that red and whites mean business with his early goal. He controlled the ball well on his chest and fired low giving Zečević no chance.
Defender Srđan Babić came close to scoring with a hooked effort following a Marko Marin corner, but his goalbound shot was just tipped over and behind by the Mladost goalkeeper.
Zvezda continued to dominate for the most of the opening 45 minutes, but were unable to add to Joveljić’s strike.
Mladost got back in the game shortly after the restart as their swift counter-attacking move broke Zvezda’s defence and gave Stefan Dimić an easy finish.
But Zvezda fought on and were in front just minutes later when Nemanja Milunović headed home from a Marko Marin free kick. The lead was restored, but it wasn’t the last goal.
Soon enough it was 3-1. El Fardou Ben’s cross from the left wing was controlled and slotted in by Milan Pavkov. It was a big blow for the visitors to concede twice in space of just three minutes after drawing level five minutes earlier.
Mirko Ivanić added the fourth just minutes after coming on with a simple finish after Zečević had parried a Milan Pavkov shot.
It was a clear and deserved win for the red and whites who are now in a great position going into the return leg in Lučani.