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Crvena Secures Serbo Montenegrin Cup

The Serbo-Montenegrin Cup goes to FK Crvena Zvezda after securing a 4-2 extra time victory over city rivals OFK Beograd. After long and nerve wrecking 90 minutes the score remained 2-2, and only in the over time did Crvena Zvezda sealed the victory. For Walter Zenga`s men, Serbia and Montenegro`s newly crowned champions, the win was their 21st in the domestic knockout competition and it completed a ninth double. The consolation prize for OFK Beograd is a place in the UEFA Cup given Crvena Zvezda`s participation in next season`s UEFA Champions League.

In front of 12,000 spectators at Belgrade`s Partizan stadium, OFK were rewarded for a bright start when Djordje Raki? broke the deadlock on eleven minutes. The favourites hit back but the remainder of the first half was most notable for the sendings-off of OFK defender Aleksandr Kolarov and Crvena Zveda midfielder Dejan Miladinovi?. OFK then stunned their more illustrious neighbors with a second goal close to the hour, Branko Bakovi?`s free kick being turned into his own net by Milan Bi?evac.

Desperate to recover the deficit, Zenga switched to a three-man attack and his approach paid dividends when ?igi? struck on 67 minutes and then Milan Purovi? found the equalizer six minutes later. It was ?igi? who made the difference in extra time before Basta`s late effort capped a remarkable comeback.