UEFA Champions League: More misery for Red Star

Red Star failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League after a 0-0 draw against Rangers last night. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Glasgow a fortnight ago, Red Star went into last night’s match, hopeful of overturning the deficit and qualifying for the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history, in front of a crowd of some 52,000 spectators. UEFA Champions League: More misery for Red Star However, not even the incentive of EUR 40,000 a man was enough to spur them to victory, as for the third time in four years, they fell at the final hurdle. And, once again, as many Red Star fans had feared coming into the match, it was the lack of an effective threat up front that led to their downfall. The last time the two clubs had met in the competition – then known as the European Cup – was in 1991. On that occasion, the Belgrade side cruised to a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory, and indeed went on to win the trophy that season, brushing aside Europe’s finest. Sadly, the 2007 vintage is a pale shadow of the team of Savicevic, Prosinecki, Pancev, and Najdoski. Despite the pessimism of many of the home fans prior to the game, Red Star almost got off to a dream start, when in the very first minute Rangers centre-back Carlos Cuellar misjudged a long through ball, leaving Montenegrin international Igor Burzanovic one on one with the keeper. However, Burzanovic is no Dejan Savicevic and nerves got the better of the young striker as he was only able to shoot straight at the keeper. Already, the “Delije” – as Red Star’s fans are known - in the stands were wondering if this would be a harbinger of things to come. The match unfolded much as it had done in Glasgow, only this time with Red Star doing most of the pressing, without really creating anything of note. On 36 minutes, Dusan Andjelkovic had a good chance from some 10 meters on the volley, but he skied his shot horribly, and Rangers were able to see in the interval without many further problems. The game opened up a bit in the second half, as Red Star manager Milorad Kosanovic urged his players forward in vain search of an equalizing goal. As a result, this left more space open at the back, which Rangers’ lone striker Jean-Claude Darcheville almost exploited in the 57th minute, his left-shot just drifting past keeper Randjelovic’s left-hand post. Red Star’s best opportunity in the second half came from Ognjen Koroman, one of the few players thus far this season, who has performed anywhere near his best. Halfway through the second period, the ball broke to him just outside the penalty box, and he unleashed a searing drive. However Allan McGregor was more than up to the challenge, tipping the ball over for a corner kick. Kosanovic brought Barkos and Raskovic on for the misfiring Milijas and Burzanovic in the last twenty minutes in a late desperate bid to turn things round, but save for a couple of wild efforts in the closing stages from Koroman and Andjelkovic, the Rangers goal never came under any serious threat. Rangers now march on to the Champions League proper, while Red Star are left with the scant consolation of a place in the first round of the UEFA Cup. A dejected Red Star fan perhaps summed up feelings best at the end of the game bemoaning that "Losing at this stage to teams like PSV and Milan is one thing, but if we can’t beat this lot, then what’s the point?" More pictures from the match in our gallery. Koroman, Ferguson at the end of the match in Belgrade (FoNet)

UEFA Champions League: More misery for Red Star

However, not even the incentive of EUR 40,000 a man was enough to spur them to victory, as for the third time in four years, they fell at the final hurdle.

And, once again, as many Red Star fans had feared coming into the match, it was the lack of an effective threat up front that led to their downfall.

The last time the two clubs had met in the competition – then known as the European Cup – was in 1991. On that occasion, the Belgrade side cruised to a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory, and indeed went on to win the trophy that season, brushing aside Europe’s finest.

Sadly, the 2007 vintage is a pale shadow of the team of Savićević, Prosinečki, Pančev, and Najdoski.

Despite the pessimism of many of the home fans prior to the game, Red Star almost got off to a dream start, when in the very first minute Rangers centre-back Carlos Cuellar misjudged a long through ball, leaving Montenegrin international Igor Burzanović one on one with the keeper.

However, Burzanović is no Dejan Savićević and nerves got the better of the young striker as he was only able to shoot straight at the keeper. Already, the “Delije” – as Red Star’s fans are known - in the stands were wondering if this would be a harbinger of things to come.

The match unfolded much as it had done in Glasgow, only this time with Red Star doing most of the pressing, without really creating anything of note.

On 36 minutes, Dusan Anđelković had a good chance from some 10 meters on the volley, but he skied his shot horribly, and Rangers were able to see in the interval without many further problems.

The game opened up a bit in the second half, as Red Star manager Milorad Kosanović urged his players forward in vain search of an equalizing goal.

As a result, this left more space open at the back, which Rangers’ lone striker Jean-Claude Darcheville almost exploited in the 57th minute, his left-shot just drifting past keeper Ranđelović’s left-hand post.

Red Star’s best opportunity in the second half came from Ognjen Koroman, one of the few players thus far this season, who has performed anywhere near his best. Halfway through the second period, the ball broke to him just outside the penalty box, and he unleashed a searing drive.

However Allan McGregor was more than up to the challenge, tipping the ball over for a corner kick.

Kosanović brought Barkos and Rašković on for the misfiring Milijaš and Burzanović in the last twenty minutes in a late desperate bid to turn things round, but save for a couple of wild efforts in the closing stages from Koroman and Anđelković, the Rangers goal never came under any serious threat.

Rangers now march on to the Champions League proper, while Red Star are left with the scant consolation of a place in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

A dejected Red Star fan perhaps summed up feelings best at the end of the game bemoaning that "Losing at this stage to teams like PSV and Milan is one thing, but if we can’t beat this lot, then what’s the point?"

More pictures from the match in our gallery.