Sarajevo beat Sloga Doboj 2-0 on Sunday evening in the Premier League, moving within a point of the visitors in the standings. The hosts looked to be in trouble after losing their last two games, but they ended a barren spell with two goals in the first half. And here's the thing — the match turned as soon as Sloga were reduced to ten men.
L. Mikic opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finishing a chance that had looked tight. Sloga had lost their discipline early, with J. Celikovic and R. Caraballo both booked in the 15th minute. By then the visitors were already scrambling, and the pressure told. S. Meite picked up a second yellow in the 45th minute before being sent off, and Sloga had to bring on three players at the interval.
Sarajevo doubled their advantage shortly after the break. A. Elezi made it 2-0 in the 49th minute, and the hosts began to control the tempo. T. Jovic missed a penalty in the 66th minute, but Sarajevo did not need another. They closed the game out after a VAR goal was cancelled in the 78th minute — a moment that would have changed everything if it had stood.
The statistics tell a simple story. Sarajevo had 51 per cent possession and six shots on target compared to Sloga's one. The visitors worked the channels but could not find the back of the net. Sarajevo's three yellow cards and one red were balanced by Sloga's four yellows, but the red card did more damage than any card count suggests.
Sarajevo sit fourth with 10 points from seven games, while Sloga remain sixth on 9. The hosts had lost three of their last five before this win, so the result lifted them off a difficult patch. Sloga's draw with Zrinjski earlier in the week had given them hope, but they could not hold their shape when the game tightened.
The gap between the two sides is now just one point, and Sarajevo have home advantage if they meet again. Cup football has its own rules, but this was league football — and in league football, you cannot afford to lose a player in the 45th minute.
