Friday, 7 August 2020

Serbia SuperLiga 2020/21 – Week 2 Round-Up


August 5, 2020

Partizan’s title credentials already look under pressure following a second unconvincing away performance but they were unable to sneak a win this time, suffering a shock 2-3 loss to Novi Pazar, a newly promoted side they would normally be expected to brush aside. Defensively they were a shambles, conceding a soft penalty, a trickler into the corner, and a bad back pass latched onto and the shot deflecting in off the unfortunate Miletic with the keeper wrong footed. Trailing at half-time, Partizan led 2-1 with 20 minutes to go, with Soumah bravely diving header after his shot had been blocked and then a neat finish by Asano. Novi Pazar have had a tough introduction to the SuperLiga, having played Crvena Zvezda in Round 1 !


Crvena Zvezda racked up a second comfortable 3-0 home win, this time it was Radnicki who were swept aside, with both new signings, Sprodonovic and Katai, on the scoresheet. Radnicki survived the Red Star bombardment until Nikolic’s delightful finish, a curling shot into top far corner just before half-time, and then conceded again immediately after when Red Star broke, with Sprodonovic and Ivanovic politely kept inviting the other to shoot before Sprodonovic coolly side-footed his second of the season. The scoring was completed when Sprodonovic fed Katai to run through the centre to slot home. It was hard to say if Red Star were very good or Radnicki not as good as previously thought.

Two contenders for European places met, with Vojvodina and Cukaricki playing out a 2-2 draw. For Vojvodina this was a second 2-2 against a fellow contender, having also drawn at TSC Backa Topola first time out. Here they found themselves 0-2 down after 54 minutes, the second being a reward for Okeuhie staying on his feet to score rather than go down for a foul,  but 2 goals in a minute brought Vojvodina back to parity.

TSC Backa Topola survived a scare at Rad. Leading 2-1 after 20 minutes they were then reduced to 10 men, a red card for the last man, but Lukic’s stunning second half free-kick was the only further goal. TSC’s other goals came from the usual suspects of Zec and Siladji. Rad have lost 2 out of 2.

Spartak Subotica are second in the early season table after winning 3-1 at promoted OFK Backa thanks to a hat-trick from Lazar Tufegdzic. Backa lost for the second time but it might have been different though had they not missed an opportunity to make it 2-2, but Dordevic’s penalty was well saved by Spartak keeper Dujmovic

Proleter Novi Sad moved in to third place, winning 2-0 at promoted FK Zlatibor, who remain pointless and goalless. Proleter were two-up after 20 minutes, with Zivojinovic on the scoresheet again to move joint top in the season’s scoring charts with 3.

The only other side with a 100% record after matchday 2 are Mladost Lucani, who recorded a surprise 3-2 win at Radnik, who themselves had provided the surprise of Round 1 with a win at Vozdovac. Mladost had taken a first half lead but Milan Makaric equalised just before half-time with a 25 yard free-kick for his third goal of the season. Mitosevic then gave Radnik the lead with 10 minutes to play with a long-range shot, but Mladost turned the match around with two goals in added on time, Babic’s impressive curling left footed 20 yard effort into the top corner proved decisive.

After their spirited effort against Partizan in Round 1, Napredak Krusevac suffered another loss, lamely losing 0-3 at Javor Ivanjica, who took their first points of the season. Although played behind closed doors, five fans were able to watch from the balcony of the flats behind one goal !

Indija lost for the second match in a row, going down 0-1 to Vozdovac, who made amends after their home defeat to Radnik, thanks to Stojcev’s first half left footed strike. Indija are also pointless and goalless. They did have a goal disallowed for offside but wasted several good chances. Vozdovac also had an effort chalked of for offside.

In the final match of the round, Macva went down 1-2 to Metallic in their second relegation six pointer of the season.  Macva took an early lead and missed a great chance for a 2-0 lead but by half-time Metallic were leading 2-1, Vasiljevic being on hand at the far post to stab home a flicked on corner for what was ultimately the winner.

Wednesday 5th August
Indija vs Vozdovac                                         0-1
Novi Pazar vs Partisan                                   3-2
Radnik vs Mladost Lucani                              2-3
Crvena Zvezda vs Radnicki                           3-0
Javor Ivanjica vs Naspredak Krusevac           3-0
Metalac vs Macva                                           2-1
Rad vs TSC Backa Topola                             1-3
Zlatibor vs Proleter Novi Sad                         0-2
OFK Backa vs Spartak Subotica                    1-3
Vojvodina vs Cukaricki                                  2-2

Round 3 is scheduled for Sunday, 8th August.

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