Maiden Victory For Red Star Belgrade To Clinch Third Over Breznica Pljevlja

Red Star Belgrade captured their first victory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, with a 3 – 0 score against Breznica Pljevlja. Nina Matejic grabbed the hat-trick to secure the victory, enabling the side to side to finish third in the group.

Team Selections

Red Star Belgrade’s Bojan Macesic made four changes from the team that faced Anderlecht on Wednesday. Nevena Eremic started in goal, behind a back three consisting of captain Ana Scepanovic, Andela Milovanovic and Mirela Tenkov, in the absence of the suspended Tijana Djordjevic. Nina Cavic and Nikolina Milovic operated as wing-backs, while Ivana Malijar and Dajana Spasojevic orchestrated in midfield. Aleksandra Ilic and Sofija Sremcevic supported Nina Matejic in attack.

Meanwhile, Breznica Pljevlja’s Miljana Rondovic made two changes. Svetlana Milicic stayed in goal while Nela Kolic started in the left-back position, replacing the suspended Aleksandra Vujosevic. Anastasija Bulic shifted to the centre of defence alongside Marija Maras, while Majda Dresevic completed the back line. Marijana Jankov and Enida Bosnjak protected the defence, while Dunja Bojanic operated further forward. Captain Tatjana Osmajic and Milijana Pavlovic started on the wings, flanking Jelena Vujadinovic who led the attack.

How It Unfolded

Montenegrin champions Breznica Pljevlja almost got a dream start, with Jelena Vujadinovic rising to connect with a cross from Milijana Pavlovic. However, her header struck the post, with the ball falling kindly for Nevena Eremic to collect.

Red Star Belgrade struggled to get rhythm early on, with the Montenegrin side looking to exploit it. However, the Serbian side grew in confidence in possession by the quarter hour mark, with Breznica Pljevlja increasingly retreating into their own half.

Ivana Malijar was the first to try her luck with a half-volley from just outside the box, but unable to trouble Breznica’s goalkeeper Svetlana Milicic. Nina Matejic struck one on the half hour mark, but she too saw her effort rise just over the crossbar.

However, the side developed a major opportunity by exploiting the space on the left wing. Nikolina Milovic fed Nina Matejic, who released Aleksandra Ilic with a perfectly weighted through ball. However, she was met by Svetlana Milicic who was quick to close down the space for the shot, keeping her team level.

Nina Matejic fired more warning shots in the 35th minute, beating her marker to get into the box, before trying a left-footed effort. However, Svetlana Milicic was well positioned to block the central shot.

Despite this, Nina Matejic nudged Red Star Belgrade into the lead just three minutes later. Nikolina Milovic fed Nina Matejic from the left wing. Belgrade’s number seven cut onto the right foot to make space for the shot in the box, before wrapping a boot to find the bottom right corner of the goal.

The Serbian side looked to get a quick second, with Nina Matejic getting the better of her marker, before releasing Sofija Sremcevic. However, Nela Kolic did well to dispossess her at the edge of the box.

Having taken most of the pressure throughout the half, Breznica sped away on a rare attack a minute from the half-time whistle with Milijana Pavlovic on her bike on the left wing. Her cross was dealt with by Red Star Belgrade’s defence, but Jelena Vujadinovic followed it up with a strike. However, the shot fizzed just wide of the mark.

The referee Martina Molinaro got more stick from the contingents, with her positioning exposed more than once in the match, but never stopping play when struck by the ball.

Half-Time Score: Red Star Belgrade 1 – 0 Breznica Pljevlja

Both coaches made changes at the break. Belgrade had a swap in the wings with Milica Saric and Andela Toskovic replacing Ivana Malijar and Nikolina Milovic. Meanwhile, Breznica’s Dunja Bojanic gave way to Mia Baturan in a straight swap.

Red Star Belgrade picked up where they left off, managing an early chance. Marija Maras blocked an initial cross from Sofija Sremcevic, before Svetlana Milicic was forced into a low save at the other side from a strike by Aleksandra Ilic.

Things heated up in the pitch with Martina Molinaro dishing out a booking to Dajana Spasojevic after the player shoved Marijana Jankov. The Montenegrin champions had a rare opportunity to attack a corner kick. Jankov delivered towards the six yard box, but Nevena Eremic collected in the air to take away the sting from the situation.

Belgrade set off in the other direction once more, with Nina Matejic releasing Aleksandra Ilic into the box. However, Svetlana Milicic was quick off her line to make the save and hold on to the ball to relieve pressure once more.

The Serbian team continued dominating possession, with Breznica Pljevlja pinned back, but holding on. Another opportunity ensued just after the hour mark as Aleksandra Ilic fed Andela Toskovic out wide. She managed the cut-back to Nina Matejic, but the forward scooped the shot.

Matejic looked to deliver a cut-back herself from the byline a few minutes later, but found Milijana Pavlovic ready to make the block, before Milica Saric whipped a ball into the box, but just having too much height for Andela Toskovic to get a head on it.

Bojan Macesic made another change bringing on Margita Vasovic in a swap with Mirela Tenkov. Meanwhile, Breznica’s Miljana Rondovic made a change in goal, bringing on Tiana Milisavljevic instead of Svetlana Milicic.

Having had much of the attacking momentum, Red Star Belgrade finally doubled the lead in the 75th minute. Nina Matejic was fed a long ball, with the Breznica defence unable to handle it on the run. Belgrade’s number seven needed no second invitation to swoop in and take control of the situation, before shifting it onto the right foot and drilling it into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Andela Toskovic made a strong dart just two minutes later, taking on three players before trying to direct an effort into the near post, but just fizzing it on the wrong side of the post.

More changes ensued, with Nadja Uvalin replacing Aleksandra Ilic for Red Star Belgrade, before Amra Mehovic took to the pitch instead of Majda Dresevic for Breznica Pljevlja. Mehovic slotted on the left wing, while Milijana Pavlovic shifted into the right-back position.

Nina Matejic had another opportunity to make it three soon after, displaying good control on the turn, but this time lacking the curl necessary to find the far post. However, the striker grabbed the hat-trick and final goal of the match from close range with another low drive in the 82nd minute.

Belgrade’s Nikolina Hadzibabic made a late appearance replacing Mirela Tenkov, while Breznica’s Ena Spahiv and Zaklina Vujosevic took to the field instead of Marijana Jankov and captain Tatjana Osmajic.

The Serbian team continued driving forward until the final whistle, with Milica Saric and Nina Matejic both forcing Tiana Milisavljevic into saves, before Nikolina Hadzibabic had a final attempt but was wide of the mark.

Final Score: Red Star Belgrade 3 – 0 Breznica Pljevlja

Standings

Round one thus concludes with Red Star Belgrade having achieved third place in CP-Group 4, in their maiden appearance in the competition. Breznica Pljevlja will have to settle for fourth place.

Anderlecht secured the place in round two by 5 – 0 victory over Birkirkara later in the evening, to secure the spot in round two of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Lead Image: Brandon Bonett

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