Abject Red Star sent packing by ex-Partizan player

Red Star’s season sunk to a new low last night as they crashed out of the UEFA Cup to Apoel Nicosia. Following a 2-2 draw in the Cypriot capital a fortnight ago, and in spite of a poor start to the domestic season, the Belgraders were still confident of progressing to the first round proper to join city rivals Partizan and surprise package Borac from Cacak. Abject Red Star sent packing by ex-Partizan player However, in a generally shocking display, a goal by Nenad Mirosavljevic, a former Partizan player, two minutes from the end of extra-time sent the North Stand into mourning. The worrying signs were already evident in the first half, as Zdenek Zeman’s men failed to get a grip on the match and build on their two away goals in Nicosia. Montenegrin international Igor Burzanovic, once touted as the new Dejan Savicevic, had the best chance, but his attempt on goal was hardly worthy of comparison with his more illustrious countryman. At the other end, Karalampidis and Zevlakov both went close for the visitors. In the second half, the floodgates began to open at both ends. Nine minutes in, Pole Kamil Kosovski found himself in an excellent shooting position at the edge of the box. When he failed to shoot first time, the opening seemed to be gone, but the Red Star defense failed to prise the ball away from him, and setting himself up on his favored left foot, he sent a low shot past Radivojevic for the opener. After the initial shock, the North Stand burst into chants of “Board Out!“ However, worse was still to come. Just two minutes later, Ribeira robbed Ibrahim Gueye on the edge of the penalty—illegitimately in the opinion of the Red Star defense—but Ribeira ignored the appeals for a free-kick and drilled the ball past Radivojevic to put the Cypriots 4-2 up on aggregate. By now, the chants had turned to “You’re all going to get a kick-in!“ Then, when all seemed lost, 13 minutes from time, the Apoel defense failed to clear a long ball into the box, and Branimir Subasic, left unmarked in the middle of the penalty area, executed a fine bicycle kick to halve the deficit. Five minutes from time, Red Star won a free-kick 30 meters from goal. Captain Nenad Milijas stepped up to take it, and sent the ball crashing against the bar, and apparently out of harm’s way. But, to the astonishment of the Apoel defense, and, to be fair, the majority of spectators, the referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line, and suddenly, the match was heading into extra-time. With the momentum very much behind them now, Zeman’s men went in search of the winner, and, sure enough, two minutes from the end of the first period, Apoel keeper Kiotis brought Subasic down in the box for a penalty and a red card to boot. Milijas stroked home the spot kick with ease, and everything seemed rosy. In the second period, Red Star missed a couple of chances to seal the match and were ultimately made to pay for their profligacy by—irony of ironies—a former Partizan player. With three minutes left, Barbosa worked some space on the left, sent in a low cross, and Mirosavljevic tapped home from six yards out to send the small contingent of Cypriot fans into ecstasy. By this time, Red Star, players and fans alike, were too traumatised to muster any response. Misery in the North Stand (FoNet)

Abject Red Star sent packing by ex-Partizan player

However, in a generally shocking display, a goal by Nenad Mirosavljević, a former Partizan player, two minutes from the end of extra-time sent the North Stand into mourning.

The worrying signs were already evident in the first half, as Zdenek Zeman’s men failed to get a grip on the match and build on their two away goals in Nicosia.

Montenegrin international Igor Burzanović, once touted as the new Dejan Savičević, had the best chance, but his attempt on goal was hardly worthy of comparison with his more illustrious countryman.

At the other end, Karalampidis and Zevlakov both went close for the visitors.

In the second half, the floodgates began to open at both ends.

Nine minutes in, Pole Kamil Kosovski found himself in an excellent shooting position at the edge of the box. When he failed to shoot first time, the opening seemed to be gone, but the Red Star defense failed to prise the ball away from him, and setting himself up on his favored left foot, he sent a low shot past Radivojević for the opener.

After the initial shock, the North Stand burst into chants of “Board Out!“ However, worse was still to come.

Just two minutes later, Ribeira robbed Ibrahim Gueye on the edge of the penalty—illegitimately in the opinion of the Red Star defense—but Ribeira ignored the appeals for a free-kick and drilled the ball past Radivojević to put the Cypriots 4-2 up on aggregate.

By now, the chants had turned to “You’re all going to get a kick-in!“

Then, when all seemed lost, 13 minutes from time, the Apoel defense failed to clear a long ball into the box, and Branimir Subašić, left unmarked in the middle of the penalty area, executed a fine bicycle kick to halve the deficit.

Five minutes from time, Red Star won a free-kick 30 meters from goal. Captain Nenad Milijaš stepped up to take it, and sent the ball crashing against the bar, and apparently out of harm’s way. But, to the astonishment of the Apoel defense, and, to be fair, the majority of spectators, the referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line, and suddenly, the match was heading into extra-time.

With the momentum very much behind them now, Zeman’s men went in search of the winner, and, sure enough, two minutes from the end of the first period, Apoel keeper Kiotis brought Subašić down in the box for a penalty and a red card to boot.

Milijaš stroked home the spot kick with ease, and everything seemed rosy.

In the second period, Red Star missed a couple of chances to seal the match and were ultimately made to pay for their profligacy by—irony of ironies—a former Partizan player.

With three minutes left, Barbosa worked some space on the left, sent in a low cross, and Mirosavljević tapped home from six yards out to send the small contingent of Cypriot fans into ecstasy. By this time, Red Star, players and fans alike, were too traumatised to muster any response.