IMT Novi Beograd’s 4-0 victory over Zemun was decided by an overwhelming statistical disparity that left the visitors unable to mount any attacking threat. The home side recorded 69 per cent possession, attempted 25 shots to Zemun’s none, and finished with an expected goals total of 3.98 against zero. The Lemeister model had given IMT Novi Beograd a 40 per cent chance of victory before kick-off, but the actual margin reflected a contest that was entirely one-sided from the first whistle.
The opening goal came five minutes before half-time when I. Martos found the net in the 40th minute. It was a straightforward finish, but the foundation had been laid by relentless pressure. IMT Novi Beograd had already accumulated eight shots by that stage, while Zemun had yet to register any. The goal was a natural reward for dominance that had been building since the opening exchanges, and it gave the home side a comfortable lead at the break.
The second half began with Zemun reduced to ten men after Novak Petrušić was shown a red card in the 36th minute, a dismissal that effectively ended any hope of a comeback. IMT Novi Beograd capitalised immediately after the interval. In the 56th minute, C. Keita scored from a N. Glisic assist, doubling the lead. Seven minutes later, V. Novicic converted a penalty to make it 3-0. The penalty, awarded after sustained pressure inside the box, was a further indication of how often the home side were able to penetrate. T. Cojic completed the scoring in the 78th minute with another normal goal, rounding off a comprehensive display.
The statistics paint a picture of complete control. IMT Novi Beograd had 69 per cent possession and completed 91 per cent of their 559 passes, compared to Zemun’s 74 per cent accuracy from 260 passes. The home side had 16 shots from inside the box, nine from outside, and 11 corner kicks to Zemun’s two. Zemun did not register a single shot of any kind, which meant their goalkeeper was forced into five saves while facing nine shots on target. The home side committed 15 fouls but only received two yellow cards, while Zemun’s four fouls resulted in one red card.
Individually, Vasilije Novičić was the standout performer with a match rating of 8.2. He scored the penalty and was a constant threat in the final third. Iván Martos and Tadija Cojić, both rated 7.6, were also influential, with Martos opening the scoring and Cojic adding the fourth. Vladimir Radočaj and Moussa Sissako, each rated 7.3, provided stability in midfield and defence, while Stefan Šapić, also on 7.3, completed the list of high-rated performers.
The result leaves IMT Novi Beograd with four points from their first two matches of the Super Liga regular season, a strong start that reflects their ability to dominate possession and create high-quality chances. Zemun, meanwhile, have now lost both of their opening fixtures and sit at the bottom of the table, with their failure to register a single shot in this match a clear sign of the work required to climb back into contention. The Lemeister model’s pre-match projection of a narrow home win was significantly exceeded by the eventual margin, but the underlying data had suggested that an IMT victory was the most likely outcome.
