HJK beaten at Marakana

Crvena zvezda made a step towards the next round with a good 2-0 win over HJK of Finland in the Champions League Second Qualifying Round First Leg in Belgrade. Strikers Richmond Boakye and Milan Pavkov scored in each half to secure a two-goal cushion for the red and whites in the return leg.

Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium

Attendance: 36,289

Referee: Pawel Gil (Poland)

Goalscorers: Boakye 27’, Pavkov 90’

Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Babić, Milunović, Rodić, Jovančić, Jovičić, Ben, Marin, Ivanić, Boakye.

Substitutes: Popović, Degenek, Pankov, Pavkov, Jander, Jevtović, Vukanović.

HJK: Rudakov, Toivomäki, Rafinha, Obilor, Mensah, Dahlström, Parra Sinisterra, Kairinen, Alho, Tarasov, Riski.

Substitutes: Uusitalo, O'Shaughnessy, Vertainen, Väyrynen, Kouassivi-Benissan, Väänänen, Zeneli.

Crvena zvezda hosted HJK some 22 years after the last meeting between these sides. Back in the 1997/98 season the team from Helsinki beat read and whites 1-0 in the first leg of the old Cup Winners' Cup Qualifying Round only for Dejan Stanković to star and lead Zvezda to a 3-0 win. Now the teams met in search of Champions League Third Qualifying Round qualification.

Our team started the match brightly and showed that Crvena zvezda were in the hunt for goals. Marko Marin and Mirko Ivanić were up to the challenge, combining well down the right and including many of their team mates in attacking moves.

HJK had the ball in Zvezda’s net on 15 minutes, but it was rightfully chalked off due to an offside position. It was a timely reminder, however, that the Finnish side had to be respected and that our defenders had to be alert at all times.

Champions of Serbia continued to probe Helsinki’s defence but, somewhat surprisingly, their best chance came after a sweeping counter-attacking move on 24 minutes. Marko Marin was released down the left, he played a well-timed diagonal pass forward for the onrushing Ivanić, but the Montenegro international couldn’t find a way around goalkeeper Maksim Rudakov.

The opening goal came just a few minutes later as a spell of good possession ended with a pinpoint cross from Ivanić onto the head of leaping Richmond Boakye. The Ghanaian headed firmly from close range and put the ball in the net to the delight of home fans.

After the break it seemed like the tempo dropped, but Vladan Milojević’s side kept pushing and pressing the visitors in the quest for what might be the decisive second goal.

The introduction of Milan Jevtović and Milan Pavkov midway through the second half gave some more energy to the team and it was Jevtović who stirred the Finnish defence down the left flank on a few occasions.

Second goal came in 90th minute as Milan Pavkov hammered home following a poor clearance from the visitors. It was the goal that brought the house down at Rajko Mitić Stadium.

We will now look to prepare for the return leg in Finland.

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