Star moments - Famous Krasnodar

Zvezda entered the new season after the unfortunate loss of the title, with major changes in the coaching staff and team and even greater pressure from the public. The club was strengthened, as it will turn out, by the protagonists of our team's greatest successes in recent history - Milan Borjan, Vujadin Savić, Nemanja Radonjić, Filip Stojković, Milan Rodić, Branko Jovičić, Aleksandar Pešić, Marko Gobeljić and Nenad Krsticić arrived, and is Vladan Milojević.

Qualifications for the Europa League began with a double-header with Florian from Malta, and the passage to the second round was already secured in Belgrade - Richmond Boaći with two goals and Slavoljub Srnić with one goal. The Irtysh from distant Kazakhstan was waiting for us there. After the unfortunate 1:1 draw in Pavlodar, the red and whites again kept things under control on the home field and with the goals of Mitchell Donald and Slavoljub Srnić secured the next round of qualification. And then, Sparta from Prague and the most difficult test until then, which Vladan Milojević's company passed with a "ten". Although everyone was skeptical due to the strength and reputation of the team from the Czech Republic, Zvezda resolutely came out on the field and played an outstanding game in front of their fans. Gelor Kanga found himself in the center of attention, as he first slyly assisted Richmond Boaci for 1:0, and then in the second half sent one of "his" shots and shot indefensible for Dubravka. The red and whites traveled to Prague with a capital advantage and when everyone thought that the focus would be on defense, once again Richmond Boaci stepped onto the scene and "certified" the passage to the playoffs, and brought the euphoria among the fans to the maximum.

In the playoffs, an even tougher rival awaited us, namely Krasnodar. The first duel took place in Russia and, although the hosts had a two-goal advantage on two occasions, the red and whites did not want to give up easily. He led the Russian team with a goal by Ignatiev, and then doubled the advantage at the beginning of the second half through Klason. Soon, "Star soldier" Slavoljub Srnić entered the scene and made it impossible for Sinicin to intervene with a powerful shot from a long distance, and scored a beautiful goal. Again, the "bulls" increased the advantage through Petrov, but that was not a sign for our persistent boys to give up, but with the help of "fresh blood" and the combination of two reserves, they once again reduced the advantage of Krasnodar. Nemanja Milić broke brilliantly on the right side and assisted Aleksandar Pešić, who just one minute after entering the field scored and brought our team an active result before the return match in Belgrade.

The stadium was filled to capacity, and the players were on their toes - it "smelled" that night in August that Zvezda could do something big. That's exactly how it started, as the red and whites already had a result in the sixth minute that leads them to Europe. Milić's shot was deflected by Sinicin, but straight to the foot of Nemanja Radonjić, who sent the atmosphere in Belgrade into a frenzy with a masterful half-volley. Just as it was the case in Krasnodar, the home team again doubled the advantage at the very beginning of the second half, only this time it was Red Star. The ball, as soon as it was taken from the center, came to Gelor Kanga, who pulled a few meters, then fired at it and scored a Eurogoal that is still talked about today. What followed was even greater joy in the stadium and the famous celebration of Kanga and his teammates in front of the north stand. Vladan Milojević's players had two "stock" goals, so Grankvist's penalty 10 minutes before the end did not change the outcome much, except that it seemed as if the referee's final whistle had been waited for hours. Our players repelled all the attacks of the Russian team, and then towards the end of the match, the moment when the whole stadium fell silent and the moment of inspiration of Milan Borjan, who defended a clean shot against Grankvist and sent Red Star to the Europa League.

There followed a celebration that had not been seen for a long time at the "Rajko Mitić" stadium, the famous statement of Filip Stojković and the general outpouring of emotions of all present, and what followed later is a story in itself.