FK Crvena Zvezda and Vojvodina shared the Cup final in Loznica, playing out a 2-2 draw that could not be settled in regulation or extra time. The match was decided by a dramatic late equaliser from Rodrigo in the 90th minute, cancelling out Vojvodina's two-goal lead and forcing the tie into a penalty shoot-out. The Lemeister model had made the defending champions favourites with a 42 per cent win probability, projecting a 2-1 scoreline in their favour, but the reality was far more precarious.
Vojvodina started with a shock, taking the lead within two minutes through K. Szucs. The early goal set the tone, and they doubled their advantage in the 35th minute when M. Vidosavljevic found the net. Both strikes were normal goals, coming from open play. For much of the first half, Vojvodina looked the more efficient side, punishing a sluggish start from the favourites. The home team responded after the break, reducing the deficit in the 53rd minute through M. Arnautovic. That goal gave FK Crvena Zvezda a foothold, but it took them until the final minute of regulation to level, with Rodrigo scoring to make it 2-2.
The statistical picture was shaped by discipline as much as by attacking output. The match produced 15 yellow cards across 121 minutes, a remarkably high number that reflected the intense, fractured nature of the contest. Vojvodina collected nine of those bookings, including one for scorer K. Szucs in the 92nd minute, while FK Crvena Zvezda had six. The card count suggests a game in which both teams struggled to control their aggression, especially in the later stages, and the constant stoppages disrupted any rhythm in possession or chance creation.
Neither side was able to dominate the flow of play to a decisive degree, as indicated by the absence of detailed possession and shot data. The goals themselves were evenly spread, with each team creating two clear chances. The fact that both teams scored from their first shots on target in the first half, and then again in the second, points to a match where clinical finishing outweighed sustained pressure. The lack of assists in the data suggests that all four goals were individual efforts rather than products of build-up sequences.
Among the named players, the goal scorers stood out for their impact. M. Arnautovic and Rodrigo both delivered at critical moments, the latter keeping his composure to score with the game on the line. K. Szucs was pivotal for Vojvodina, not only scoring the opener but also drawing a yellow card in the process. The high volume of cautions for Vojvodina, particularly for V. Savicevic, L. Nikolic, D. Crnomarkovic, A. Vukanovic, N. Petrovic, D. Kokanovic, M. Mladenovic and Lucas Barros, underlines their aggressive approach, but it also cost them control in the latter stages.
For FK Crvena Zvezda, the result maintains their status as one of the country's top sides, but the narrow escape against a disciplined Vojvodina will raise questions about their ability to manage a final effectively. The Lemeister model had them as favourites, and they did eventually salvage the draw, but the first-half deficit and the sheer volume of cards suggest they were fortunate to reach a penalty shoot-out. Vojvodina, meanwhile, will rue letting a two-goal lead slip, but their performance confirms they can compete at the highest domestic level, especially in knockout football.
