After beating Trabzonspor 3-2 at home and Monaco 1-0 away, we were top of Group H heading into the third group match against Crvena zvezda. While the Belgrade side were fighting for survival, our side could play in the knowledge that if they won and Monaco drew with Trabzonspor, they would finish no lower than third in their group and secure a place in the European Cup in the spring. Stanislav Cherchesov has sent out the eleven of Dibusz - Wingo, Knoester, S. Mmaee, Botka - Besic, Laidouni - Traoré, Zachariassen, Tokmac - Boli.

First half

Zachariassen started the match but the first dangerous chance came from the home side: Samy Mmaee read the game well and freed our sidel. The Belgrade side, with their defence high up, started to attack with more pressure. Our first shot was registered by Laidouni, the Tunisian midfielder's effort was intercepted and a corner was taken.

Moments later, Gobeljic also threatened, but his left-footed shot gave Dibusz no trouble. In the 15th minute, Besic was fouled and, reaching the sixteen-yard line, shot right-footed but missed the target. A minute later, Pesic pulled the ball towards goal from a corner, but was inaccurate. In the 20th minute, Zvezda tried to score on the left wing but Dibusz stopped the attempt.

Both teams played patiently, not getting into unnecessary dangerous situations, but from a simple clearance both Crvena Zvezda and Ferencváros changed rhythm quickly and were in the opponent's penalty area within seconds. Past the half-hour mark, Ivanic headed in a dangerous cross from a corner.

Instead of a corner kick, however, the video referee indicated that the ball had hit the American defender's hand and the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a brief replay. Kanga stepped up and fired into the top right corner (1-0). We almost managed to respond immediately, and although Boli pushed the ball past the goalkeeper, he was unable to complete the attack.

Ten minutes before the end of the first half, Dragovic headed in a cross from the right, but missed the target. Less than a minute later, Mitrovic turned away from his defender and fired a left-footed shot into the net (2-0). Despite the two-goal deficit, we kept our heads up and went forward. In the last minutes of the first half, first Tokmac pulled the ball towards the goal, then Zachariassen turned awat from his defender.

Neither team created any more chances in the first half and the teams went into the break with a 2-0 Serbian lead.

Second half

Neither head coach made any changes at the break.

After the turnaround, the home team, with a two-goal lead, took the initiative, and in the 49th minute Katai scored after a quick counter-attack (3-0). We still did not give up and fought hard to come back.

In the 57th minute, two substitutions were made: Besic was replaced by Vécsei, while Ryan Mmaee came on for Boli. Soon after, Kanga hit the ball superbly, Dibusz had no chance to save. Then in the 71st minute Zachariassen made it 4-1. Stanislav Cherchesov tried to change the game with constant substitutions, Marquinhos, Amer Gojak and Lóránd Pászka came on, but the Serbian champions held firm to their three-goal lead. Crvena Zvezda gave up on the initiatives in the closing stages, and Ryan Mmaee's shot hit the post in the 87th minute.

Our team put up a good fight, but eventually lost 4-1 in Belgrade, but next week we have a rematch at the Groupama Arena, this time with Crvena zvezda visiting us on Thursday 13 October. We also remain top of our group after Monaco beat Trabzonsport in the other match, so FTC and Monaco are both on 6-6 points, but even though Monaco have the better goal difference, it's the result against each other that counts when the scores are even.