UEFA Cup: Klose, Ranđelović combine to sink Red Star

Red Star lost 2-3 to Bayern Munich last night in their first match of the UEFA Cup group phase. Red Star were last night five minutes away from recording their best result in European competition, arguably since knocking the same team out in the European Cup semis 16 years ago, before the German giants broke Marakana hearts with two late strikes. UEFA Cup: Klose, Randjelovic combine to sink Red Star The evening’s two main protagonists were Bayern striker, Miroslav Klose and Red Star keeper, Ivan Randjelovic. The former was very much the hero of the night, scoring twice, and fully justifying the EUR 15mn the Munich club splashed out on him during the summer. Randjelovic, on the other hand, had a night to forget, and will doubtless find it hard to show his face in the next few days at the Marakana. Already partly at fault for Bayern’s first goal, his inexplicable blunder in the last minute turned a potentially memorable victory into a night of mourning for the disbelieving home fans. Going into the game as complete underdogs, written off in all quarters, following an abysmal start to the season, Red Star’s much maligned players played the games of their lives – for 85 minutes. Following a cagey opening, they stunned the Bavarians in 16 minutes, when Nenad Milijas released Ognjen Koroman in the inside left channel. Koroman, the team's one player who has lived up to his billing this season, sidestepped Felix Lam, before drilling a low shot inside Rensing’s left-hand post. The joy on the terraces was short-lived however, as three minutes later, Randjelovic committed his first blunder of the night. Castillo lost the ball in midfield, Lucio picked up possession and shot from some 25 yards. Although not struck with any great force, the Red Star keeper was only able to parry the ball in to the path of the onrushing Klose, who gratefully tapped in the equaliser. The tight midfield battle resumed after Klose’s goal, with both sides struggling to find their feet on an appalling pitch. Koroman in 36 minutes, and Klose in 39 both came close to their second of the night. After the interval, Red Star coach Milorad Kosanovic brought Dusan Bajalica on for the struggling Dusan Basta, as the home side continued to rattle their much vaunted opponents. Ibrahim Gai was executing backheels, Molina and Barros – the hitherto much-derided South American imports – suddenly started playing like seasoned internationals, wreaking havoc among the Bayern wing backs, while Koroman continued to run the show in midfield. Sixteen minutes from time, the Marakana exploded for a second time, after a goal to remember. Nenad Milijas received the ball in midfield, and as the Bayern defense backed off expecting him to feed one of his strikers, the midfielder unleashed a bullet from 30 yards, that gave Rensing no chance. However, as has so often been the case with Red Star’s European adventures in recent seasons, the goal only heralded a false dawn. Five minutes from time, Bayern won a free kick on the home side’s left flank, some 30 yards from goal. Toni Kroos, who had come on as a substitute four minutes earlier swung the ball in, and Klose rose unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box to divert the ball home. As Red Star looked to hang on for what would have been a perfectly acceptable 2-2 draw – an identical scoreline to that famous night sixteen years ago – Bajalica received his second yellow of the night. From the resulting free-kick, Kroos stepped up once more, swinging in a low ball this time, that went through the legs of a couple of players, wrong-footing the keeper, who could only watch in despair as the ball trickled in. While the visitor’s joy was unconfined, the Red Star players lay sprawled on the field, heads in their hands, the despair on the pitch and in the stands almost tangible. After the match, the villain of the night, Randjelovic told journalists, “The same thing happens every year, we let stupid goals in in the dying stages. With this last one, the ball bobbled through a forest of legs,,, One of the reasons for the defeat was the dreadful state of the pitch." A superhuman effort will be required now, if they are to bounce back from this defeat before their next match at home to Bolton in December. In the group’s other game last night, Bolton and Braga drew 1-1. Koroman dispossessing Ze Roberto (FoNet)

UEFA Cup: Klose, Ranđelović combine to sink Red Star

The evening’s two main protagonists were Bayern striker, Miroslav Klose and Red Star keeper, Ivan Ranđelović.

The former was very much the hero of the night, scoring twice, and fully justifying the EUR 15mn the Munich club splashed out on him during the summer.

Ranđelović, on the other hand, had a night to forget, and will doubtless find it hard to show his face in the next few days at the Marakana. Already partly at fault for Bayern’s first goal, his inexplicable blunder in the last minute turned a potentially memorable victory into a night of mourning for the disbelieving home fans.

Going into the game as complete underdogs, written off in all quarters, following an abysmal start to the season, Red Star’s much maligned players played the games of their lives – for 85 minutes.

Following a cagey opening, they stunned the Bavarians in 16 minutes, when Nenad Milijaš released Ognjen Koroman in the inside left channel. Koroman, the team's one player who has lived up to his billing this season, sidestepped Felix Lam, before drilling a low shot inside Rensing’s left-hand post.

The joy on the terraces was short-lived however, as three minutes later, Ranđelović committed his first blunder of the night. Castillo lost the ball in midfield, Lucio picked up possession and shot from some 25 yards. Although not struck with any great force, the Red Star keeper was only able to parry the ball in to the path of the onrushing Klose, who gratefully tapped in the equaliser.

The tight midfield battle resumed after Klose’s goal, with both sides struggling to find their feet on an appalling pitch. Koroman in 36 minutes, and Klose in 39 both came close to their second of the night.

After the interval, Red Star coach Milorad Kosanović brought Dušan Bajalica on for the struggling Dušan Basta, as the home side continued to rattle their much vaunted opponents. Ibrahim Gai was executing backheels, Molina and Barros – the hitherto much-derided South American imports – suddenly started playing like seasoned internationals, wreaking havoc among the Bayern wing backs, while Koroman continued to run the show in midfield.

Sixteen minutes from time, the Marakana exploded for a second time, after a goal to remember. Nenad Milijaš received the ball in midfield, and as the Bayern defense backed off expecting him to feed one of his strikers, the midfielder unleashed a bullet from 30 yards, that gave Rensing no chance.

However, as has so often been the case with Red Star’s European adventures in recent seasons, the goal only heralded a false dawn. Five minutes from time, Bayern won a free kick on the home side’s left flank, some 30 yards from goal. Toni Kroos, who had come on as a substitute four minutes earlier swung the ball in, and Klose rose unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box to divert the ball home.

As Red Star looked to hang on for what would have been a perfectly acceptable 2-2 draw – an identical scoreline to that famous night sixteen years ago – Bajalica received his second yellow of the night. From the resulting free-kick, Kroos stepped up once more, swinging in a low ball this time, that went through the legs of a couple of players, wrong-footing the keeper, who could only watch in despair as the ball trickled in.

While the visitor’s joy was unconfined, the Red Star players lay sprawled on the field, heads in their hands, the despair on the pitch and in the stands almost tangible.

After the match, the villain of the night, Ranđelović told journalists, “The same thing happens every year, we let stupid goals in in the dying stages. With this last one, the ball bobbled through a forest of legs,,, One of the reasons for the defeat was the dreadful state of the pitch."

A superhuman effort will be required now, if they are to bounce back from this defeat before their next match at home to Bolton in December.

In the group’s other game last night, Bolton and Braga drew 1-1.