Naftagas saw off Jedinstvo Ub 3-0 at home in the First League's regular season round 11 on Monday. The result lifts the hosts off the bottom of the pair of sides level on points, though they remain in 13th place with seven points from 10 games. Jedinstvo stay 14th, also on seven points after 10 matches with two wins and seven defeats.
V. Siladji opened the scoring in the 26th minute, a moment that shifted the rhythm. By then Naftagas had been struggling to find answers, their recent record showing only a 1-1 draw with Teleoptik and a goalless stalemate against Metalac GM. The goal gave them something to build on, and they never got going once Jedinstvo conceded.
The match grew more physical as the half wore on. M. Marsenic and M. Stevanovic both picked up yellow cards before the break, and M. Terzic joined them shortly after. Naftagas made changes to steady the game — A. Krefl and E. Okain came on around the 45th and 46th minutes — while Jedinstvo tried to respond through U. Savkovic in the 56th.
M. Stankovic doubled the lead in the 60th minute, and the game was effectively over. He was booked himself in the 81st minute before being replaced, and N. Gavric added a third in the 84th. The hosts held their nerve through a flurry of yellow cards — D. Acimovic, I. Jelicic and L. Durdevic all went to the referee — and ran out comfortable winners.
The result leaves Naftagas still searching for consistency. They had drawn three of their last five before this, including two 1-1 matches, but the win gives them a chance to climb away from the bottom. Jedinstvo, meanwhile, extend their run of losses to four in five games and face a difficult run ahead.
