Abass Late Strike Secures Radnicki Victory
Zemun and Radnicki NIS met in the Serbian SuperLiga's third round on Saturday, and it was the visitors who claimed all three points with a 1-0 win. The result leaves both sides still searching for form, though Radnicki moved a point clear of their hosts in the table. It was a match where patience ultimately paid off for the away side.
For most of the game, neither team could find a clear path through the other. Zemun started brightly enough, earning a corner early, but Radnicki settled into their 66 per cent possession and began to dictate the tempo. There were substitutions in the second half as both managers looked for something different — D. Petrovic came on for Zemun in the fifty-sixth minute, while A. Shestyuk answered for Radnicki shortly after.
And here's the thing: the decisive moment arrived only when most eyes were turning toward the exit. I. Abass found space in the nine-hundred-and-fifth minute and finished clinically to give Radnicki the lead. The goal came after four big chances had been created by the visitors, but none converted until then. Abass collected a yellow card almost immediately after, perhaps reflecting the tension in those final moments.
The statistics tell a story of dominance without reward for Zemun. They managed only two shots on target from four attempts, while Radnicki tested the goalkeeper eleven times from twenty-two efforts. The hosts created no big chances at all, whereas the visitors did so four times. By then, the game had settled into a pattern where Radnicki controlled possession but Zemun defended resolutely.
Match Statistics Summary
- Shot accuracy: Zemun 29 per cent, Radnicki 42 per cent
- Key passes: Zemun 5, Radnicki 20
- Corners: Zemun 1, Radnicki 7
- Total passes: Zemun 277, Radnicki 541
Seven yellow cards were shown during the encounter, with Zemun collecting five and Radnicki two. The discipline issues came at various stages — D. Jovanovic and N. Belakovic were booked in the first half, while U. Vitas and N. Kalat picked up cautions late on. M. Jokic and I. Abass both received cards in stoppage time.
To be fair, the result does not dramatically change either side's situation. Zemun remain bottom of the table with just one point from eight games, still without a win. Radnicki sit in thirteenth with five points from seven matches, one victory and two draws so far. What it does suggest is that both teams have work to do before the season gains any real momentum.
