Crvena Zvezda score four away goals against Larne

Crvena Zvezda players celebrate during the four-goal win in Belfast.

Crvena Zvezda defeated Larne 4-0 in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. Bruno Duarte scored twice in Northern Ireland. Vasilije Kostov and Muhamed Cham added the other goals.

The Serbian champions return to Belgrade with a four-goal lead. Zvezda scored once before halftime and three times after the break. Larne did not record a goal in the opening match.

Duarte opened the match from the penalty spot

Larne protected the centre during the opening minutes and kept many players behind the ball. Zvezda moved possession patiently across the pitch. The visitors waited for a clear entry into the penalty area.

The first breakthrough arrived after a foul inside the box. Duarte accepted responsibility and converted the penalty. The goal reduced the pressure around Zvezda's early possession.

Larne still competed for direct balls and second contacts. Zvezda's defenders stayed close enough to prevent clean counterattacks. That work kept the home side from building momentum before halftime.

Duarte's finish also changed the spacing of the match. Larne needed to move higher when opportunities appeared. More room then became available behind the first defensive line.

Kostov finished the best move after the break

Zvezda doubled the lead ten minutes after halftime. Osman Bukari drove forward and supplied Kostov after a strong individual action. The young midfielder completed the move with a composed finish.

The goal came from open play and showed another route through Larne. Zvezda did not depend only on the earlier penalty. Quick movement around the area created the second clear chance.

Zvezda created regular chances during the European qualifying match.

Kostov's contribution rewarded his work between midfield and attack. He found space at the right moment and stayed balanced while finishing. Bukari's assist marked a productive return to the team.

Kostov's goal followed a direct run by Bukari on the right. The pass reached the midfielder inside the area. His finish doubled the advantage before Duarte and Cham added the final two goals.

The third goal removed Larne's recovery

Duarte scored again during the second half. His second goal arrived after Zvezda had established firm control. Larne could no longer protect a narrow deficit.

The striker's movement kept the central defenders occupied throughout the match. He offered a target when Zvezda played forward. He also attacked space when Bukari and the midfielders carried the ball.

Two goals gave Duarte the clearest individual return. The full performance still relied on stable work behind him. Zvezda recovered loose balls quickly and limited long periods of home possession.

The visitors did not allow the third goal to reduce their concentration. They continued defending set pieces and direct passes. That discipline preserved the clean sheet during the closing stages.

Cham completed the scoring late

Cham added the fourth goal near the end of normal time. The finish punished a Larne side carrying the effects of a difficult second half. Zvezda therefore left with four away goals and no reply.

Cham's late goal increased the lead before the return match in Belgrade. Larne had already conceded twice after halftime. The fourth finish completed Zvezda's largest advantage of the evening.

The Serbian champions left Belfast with a four-goal advantage.

The return match will complete the qualifying tie in Belgrade. Zvezda enter it after scoring four times away from home. Larne need to overturn the result to continue in the competition.

Zvezda's four scorers and creators represented several attacking roles. Duarte worked centrally, Kostov arrived from deeper space and Cham contributed late. Bukari supplied the key pass for the second goal.

Duarte's two goals came in different phases of the match. The first was a penalty before halftime. His second arrived from open play after Zvezda had already extended the lead through Kostov.

Zvezda take a four-goal lead to Belgrade

The second leg moves the contest to Belgrade. Zvezda begin with goals from Duarte, Kostov and Cham already on the aggregate score. Larne arrive after failing to score at home.

Larne's task is defined by the four-goal deficit. Zvezda can qualify even after several possible second-leg scores. The aggregate position came entirely from the opening match in Northern Ireland.

The first leg gives the home crowd a clear result to follow. Zvezda still have another competitive match on the schedule. The final aggregate score will be fixed after the Belgrade leg.

The first leg produced a penalty, two open-play goals and a late finish. It also produced a clean sheet. Those facts give Zvezda complete control before the teams meet again.

The four scorers and creators covered several positions. Duarte led the attack, Kostov arrived from midfield and Cham completed the scoring. Bukari supplied the pass for the second goal.