MD 13: ZAGREB NK 2-1 FK BELGRADE
Zagreb claims three points against Belgrade
By: Drew Peacock 🦚
Eighteen points separated the hosts, Zagreb NK and the visiting FK Belgrade ahead of their collision on the thirteenth match day. Captains Scooter McGavin and Abdi In Zukolo came into the match with no tactical adjustments, however, the Serbian side offered debuts to two new players, Mer Yang and Crispy Halo, both defenders.
The match started off with a quick goal for the hosts! After bombing down the flank, Marcus Neagu found Shugaar Plum, who moved into a central midfield position from his normal spot on the left side of the defense. This extra body helped give Zagreb the numerical advantage they needed to create a chance. Plum gave the ball to Henry Kamel who turned, found Scooter, and made a run into the penalty area. Scooter then played a beauty of a ball over the Belgrade defense for Kamel to first time it past the Belgrade keeper, giving Zagreb an early lead.
Belgrade would have their first chance of the game in the nineteenth minute after a questionable foul call and a free kick was awarded in a great scoring position. Alexi Williams stepped up to take the kick, but the Zagreb wall was too large to overcome.
The next chance would come for Belgrade in the 36th minute. A strong counterattack saw them challenge the Zagreb defense with numbers. Former Lisboa fullback Bjorn Weizenbaun found himself in space on the left flank and was able to cross into the path of Ricardo Mendez-Gomez. Unfortunately, the midfielder's first touch was a little loose, and he was forced into a less than ideal shooting position. There was plenty of power behind the shot, but Owen Majmunovic was able to block the attempt.
Directly following the save, Neagu played a ball for Jethro to chase down, hoping to catch the defense out of position. Belgrade was retreating, not able to clear the ball properly, and it fell to Kamel. Kamel settled the ball and played it back to Jethro, who collided with Mer Yang. The ball fell to Scooter, who left the keeper no chance to stop his shot from outside the box. The Zagreb captain's first league goal since the second match day would give the hosts a two-goal lead into halftime.
After the break, Neagu again dominating both flanks, was able to create space and send in a succulent cross to debutant Patrick Opuhac. However, the Croatian academy graduate would send his headed attempt over the bar.
The visitors would cut the lead in half in the 60th minute. Abdi In Zukolo pushed his team forward and found space on the right flank to cross. His cross deflected off of Henry Kamel in the direction of the Zagreb goal. Majmunovic and Plum were both calling for it, but it would be Vagina Aphale who would get to the ball first, and his touch put it just beyond the reach of Majmunovic. The score is now two to one with thirty minutes left to play.
Another chance to get a third goal for the hosts, this time via substitute Alexei Alpha. The emphasis on getting bodies forward left Belgrade with fewer players to stop Zagreb's deadly counterattacks. Alpha was able to get in behind the Belgrade defense and play a cross towards both Jethro and Neagu who were unmarked at the time of the cross. The ball was just too high for Jethro to meet it with his head and too fast for Neagu to first time it.
The Zagreb defense would kill off the last eighteen minutes of the match to ensure the hosts took all three points in this one. Scooter McGavin was named Man-of-the-Match, and Zagreb remain second in the table, one point behind reigning champs Vienna. Belgrade's last handful of performances have been better, will they be able to keep their resolve and escape the drop?
