UEFA Cup: Red Star thrashed, team and fans alike

Red Star’s UEFA Cup hopes were dealt a severe blow last night, losing 3-0 to Aris in Thessaloniki. Following the attacks on traveling Red Star supporters by Aris fans on the day leading up to the match, the team’s woes were further compounded by another abject performance, leaving them a point adrift at the bottom of UEFA Cup Group F, with two defeats from two games. UEFA Cup: Red Star thrashed, team and fans alike After the game, coach Milorad Kosanovic, having already announced his resignation a week ago, decided to bite the bullet and quit immediately, after a eminently forgettable reign at the helm of the Belgrade club. He told journalists today, “I tendered my resignation seven days ago, although I stayed until last night, as it would have been out of order to leave the team out to dry against Aris. I’ll leave today.” As far as the actual match was concerned, any hopes that the brave performance in defeat to Bayern Munich a fortnight ago might spark some sort of revival, were soon dispersed, as the visitors set their stall out to defend, apparently deeming a point satisfactory. The tactic seemed to work well enough in the first half, with both sides canceling each other out. Indeed, it was Red Star who had the best chance in the first half, as Nenad Milijas rose unchallenged to connect with a left-wing cross only 10 yards for goal. Sadly, his header, powerful though it was, was directed straight at the keeper, who managed to smother the ball, before Milijas could reach the rebound. As the police attacked fans in the stands with tear gas, on the pitch, Red Star’s formation started to give way. The turning point was Aris coach and indeed Kosanovic’s predecessor at the Marakana, Dusan Bajevic’s decision to bring on Atanasios Papazoglu in the 54th minute, who immediately began exposing Red Star’s frailties at the back. And, it was the substitute who finally broke the deadlock fifteen minutes from time, capitalizing on a mistake by Polish defender Bronowicki to steer the ball past Randjelovic in the Red Star goal. Only after going a goal behind did Kosanovic did adopt a more attacking approach, bringing Burzanovic and Jestrovic on for Geuye and the ineffective Molina. However, it was a case of too little too late, as Papayoglu struck again in the closing stages, breaking down the right, and drilling the ball into the roof of the net. Nor was that to be the end of Red Star’s misery, as just a minute later, Koke made space for himself in the box to slot home a third. In the evening’s other match in Group F, Bolton snatched a late equalizer in Munich to claim a 2-2 draw. Bayern now lead the group on 4 points from two matches, followed by Aris with 3 from one match, Bolton 2 from two, Braga 1 from one, with Red Star bottom on 0 from two. Red Star’s next match is at home to the English side on December 6. Ognjen Koroman in action (FoNet)

UEFA Cup: Red Star thrashed, team and fans alike

After the game, coach Milorad Kosanović, having already announced his resignation a week ago, decided to bite the bullet and quit immediately, after a eminently forgettable reign at the helm of the Belgrade club.

He told journalists today, “I tendered my resignation seven days ago, although I stayed until last night, as it would have been out of order to leave the team out to dry against Aris. I’ll leave today.”

As far as the actual match was concerned, any hopes that the brave performance in defeat to Bayern Munich a fortnight ago might spark some sort of revival, were soon dispersed, as the visitors set their stall out to defend, apparently deeming a point satisfactory.

The tactic seemed to work well enough in the first half, with both sides canceling each other out. Indeed, it was Red Star who had the best chance in the first half, as Nenad Milijaš rose unchallenged to connect with a left-wing cross only 10 yards for goal. Sadly, his header, powerful though it was, was directed straight at the keeper, who managed to smother the ball, before Milijaš could reach the rebound.

As the police attacked fans in the stands with tear gas, on the pitch, Red Star’s formation started to give way. The turning point was Aris coach and indeed Kosanović’s predecessor at the Marakana, Dušan Bajević’s decision to bring on Atanasios Papazoglu in the 54th minute, who immediately began exposing Red Star’s frailties at the back.

And, it was the substitute who finally broke the deadlock fifteen minutes from time, capitalizing on a mistake by Polish defender Bronowicki to steer the ball past Ranđelović in the Red Star goal.

Only after going a goal behind did Kosanović did adopt a more attacking approach, bringing Burzanović and Jestrović on for Geuye and the ineffective Molina.

However, it was a case of too little too late, as Papayoglu struck again in the closing stages, breaking down the right, and drilling the ball into the roof of the net. Nor was that to be the end of Red Star’s misery, as just a minute later, Koke made space for himself in the box to slot home a third.

In the evening’s other match in Group F, Bolton snatched a late equalizer in Munich to claim a 2-2 draw. Bayern now lead the group on 4 points from two matches, followed by Aris with 3 from one match, Bolton 2 from two, Braga 1 from one, with Red Star bottom on 0 from two.

Red Star’s next match is at home to the English side on December 6.