Javor proved a strong opponent in a close Superliga encounter on Sunday afternoon as Zvezda left it late to find an equalizer that earned us a 1-1 draw.
Ground: Javor Stadium
Attendance: 3,300
Referee: Petar Piper
Goalscorers: Petković 25’ - Jevtović 87’
Javor: Lazović, Parišić, Kolaković, Amanović, Jevremović, Dolmagić, Kuveljić, Maričić, Piščević, Petković, Mrkaić.
Substitutes: Poledica, Filipović, Nikolić, Đerić, Krnić, Milošević, Cuckić.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gajić, Milunović, Babić, Rodić, Vulić, Cañas, Ben, Ivanić, Simić, Boakye.
Substitutes: Vasiljević, Degenek, Pankov, Tomané, Petrović, Jevtović, Gobeljić.
Vladan Milojević warned his players that they are up against a very physical side that’s been performing well lately. And it was clear what the boss meant as soon as the match in Ivanjica started. It was a lively affair in which both teams created opportunities.
It was the hosts who made their efforts count on 25 minutes as Nikola Petković finished a team move off with a simple tap-in. It was 1-0 to Igor Bondžulić’s side.
Ben came close to leveling the score just a couple of minutes later, but he fired just over from a good position after a smart run and low cross from Veljko Simić.
Javor had chances to extend their lead, but Milan Borjan saved Zvezda twice in just a few minutes with red and white defenders all at sea. The Canada international goalkeeper made sure his team-mates knew that they had to improve.
Half time whistle went with the Champions of Serbia trailing, so Vladan Milojević sent another striker on as Tomané replaced Cañas.
Zvezda looked better after the restart and we were nearly level some ten minutes after the break as Simić and Milunović both had chances to score after an almighty scramble following a Ben corner. But Javor survived and nearly scored at the other end. But Borjan was alert to hold a low effort from Kuveljić. An hour of play passed, but our team still went searching for a goal that would as least put them level with the hosts.
Zvezda looked unable to convert chances on a day when hardly anything went right, but substitute Milan Jevtović made sure we avoided what would have been an undeserved defeat three minutes from time as the finally squeezed the ball past Đorđe Lazović to make it 1-1.
We have had chances for a dramatic winner, notably the one for Ben. The Comorian forward found himself in a great position to win it for Zvezda, but that man Đorđe Lazović produced a wonderful save to save his team. In the end Zvezda and Javor shared the points after an entertaining match.