Novi Beograd and Red Star in the Serbian Cup Final for the Third Time

Novi Beograd and Red Star will meet in the Serbian Cup final on Saturday (8:15 PM) in Šabac.

Today, Novi Beograd won the semifinal derby against Radnički 11-9, while Red Star defeated Novobeogradski Vukovi 11-5.

Last year, Novi Beograd and Red Star also reached the final, with Novi Beograd's emerging victorious for their first Serbian Cup title after losing two previous finals.

This will be the third consecutive final between Novi Beograd and Red Star in the Cup. Two years ago, Red Star defied all odds and won 11-10, while last year Novi Beograd claimed the trophy with an 18-15 victory.

Radnički - Novi Beograd

For the second time this season, Novi Beograd was victorious against Radnički. Just under a month ago, Novobeograđani defeated Kragujevac by four goals (14-10) in a Regional League match. Tonight's match was much more suspenseful. It was an open game until the final quarter.

Novi Beograd coach Živko Gocić was without one of his key players, Angelos Vlahopulos, who was injured in training two days ago.

Thanks to a solid defense, Radnički controlled the game in the first quarter and led 3-1 at halftime. However, Novobeograđani scored three goals in the second quarter to take a 4-3 lead. The first half ended in a draw as Marko Janković equalized with five seconds remaining - 4-4.

Midway through the third quarter, Novi Beograd had a two-goal lead (7-5), but Kragujevac quickly caught up to make it 7-7.

Five seconds before the start of the final quarter, Miroslav Perković put Novi Beograd back in the lead with a man advantage. However, Drašović equalized at the beginning of the period - 8-8. Novobeograđani responded with goals from Martinović and Lukić to regain a two-goal lead (10-8) with five and a half minutes remaining. Radnički's hope was restored by Strahinja Rašović, who scored to make it 10-9 with less than five minutes left. Novobeograđani resisted, and 28 seconds before the end, one of the best performers of the match, Miloš Ćuk, secured victory with his third goal.

In addition to Ćuk's three goals, Đorđe Vučinić was the most efficient player of the match with three goals, followed by Vasilije Martinović with two, as well as Drašović and Murišić on the other side.

Radnički - Novi Beograd 9-11 (3-1, 1-3, 3-4, 2-3)

Šabac City Pool. Referees: Milović and Virijević. Exclusions: Radnički 10 (4), Novi Beograd 11 (7). Extra player goals: Radnički 1 (0). Penalties: Novi Beograd 1 (0)

RADNIĆKI: Filipović, Rašović 1, Stanojević 1, F.Janković, M.Janković 1, Pijetlović, Drašović 2, N.Jakšić 1, Vasić, Vićković, P. Jakšić, Murišić 2, Todorovski, Dadvani 1. Coach Stevanoić.

NOVI BEOGRAD: Glušac, Gbadamasi, Skumpakis, Martinović 2, Ćuk 3, Radović , Vučinić 3, Dimitrijević 1, Perković 1, Gladović, Lukić 1, Krstić, Pajković, Trtović. Coach Gocić.

Red Star - NBG Vukovi

Red Star did not allow any surprises in the second semifinal and convincingly defeated the young team of Novobeogradski Vukovi. The Red and Whites easily took a 3-0 lead and then controlled the game. Vladimir Mišović performed well in goal, and Red Star's centers earned many exclusions. Aleksandar Filipović's team led 6-2 in the second quarter, the Vukovi threatened with two consecutive goals (4-6), but Red Star didn't let them come any closer.

Red Star - Vukovi 11-5 (3-1, 3-3, 4-0, 1-1)

Šabac City Pool. Referees: Exclusions: Red Star 14, Vukovi 8. Penalties Red Star 1 (1)

Red Star: Mišović, Gajić, Kasum, Smit, Živković, Danković 2, Radanović 2, Basara 2, Vukićević, Seman 2, Šulc 3, Banićević, Savić, Čikarić. Coach: Filipović.

Vukovi: Nekredin, Maraš, Konatar,Grbović, Gak 1, Munćan, Gogov 2, Kenai, Ljubenović, Ćorić 1, Vujković, Peleš, Šuša, Aleksandrov 1. Coach Vasilovski.