OFK Beograd beat Zemun 1-0 in Stara Pazova

OFK Beograd defeated Zemun 1-0 at the Serbian FA centre in Stara Pazova on Saturday. De Bar scored after 29 minutes and gave OFK the only goal of the Belgrade rivalry match.

Zemun played with ten men after Ljubomirac received a second yellow card in the 49th minute. OFK protected the lead and completed the sixth-round match with three points.

De Bar scored in the first half

OFK Beograd began the match with more control of the ball. The home team moved through midfield with support and tried to create space near the Zemun penalty area. The opening goal arrived after 29 minutes. De Bar completed the attack and put OFK in front. The goal gave the home team a specific advantage to protect for the rest of the evening.

Zemun remained close enough to respond before the break. OFK kept its defensive shape, followed the next runners and reached half-time with a 1-0 lead.

OFK kept control after taking the lead

A one-goal advantage did not allow OFK to stop attacking. The team continued to move the ball and forced Zemun to defend before starting a counterattack. Players behind the attack protected the central space.

That support reduced the chance of one lost pass creating an open run toward the OFK goal.

The home side did not need to force every forward action. Safe possession made Zemun work without the ball and removed time from the visitors' search for an equaliser.

Zemun played with ten men after the break

The task became harder for Zemun in the 49th minute. Ljubomirac received a second yellow card, so the visitors had to complete the match with ten players. Zemun still needed a goal, but sending too many players forward would have left more space for OFK. The team had to balance that risk during the entire second half.

OFK used the extra player to keep a stable formation. The home team could cover the width of the field and stop several attacks before they reached the penalty area.

Zemun could not find an equaliser

The visitors stayed in the contest because the difference remained one goal.

The two clubs prepare for a direct SuperLiga meeting.

A set piece or one accurate counterattack could still have changed the result. OFK defended those moments with concentration. The nearest player challenged the ball, while teammates protected the route toward the centre of the penalty area.

The final minutes did not produce an equaliser. OFK kept the 1-0 score until the final whistle and turned De Bar's first-half goal into a home victory.

The extra player changed the available space

After the red card, OFK could move one player into an open passing lane without leaving another area unprotected. This made it easier to keep the ball and force Zemun to run between positions. Zemun had to defend with a narrower formation. When a wide player moved toward the ball, another teammate needed to cover the space behind him. That extra work reduced the number of players available for a counterattack.

OFK did not score a second goal, but it limited the visitors' best routes forward. The home side treated possession as a defensive tool and avoided the rushed pass that could have returned the ball to Zemun.

The Belgrade rivals bring a strong crowd to their meetings.

Both teams have specific points to review

OFK can review how it controlled the match after taking the lead. The team protected the central area well, although a second goal would have removed the risk from the final minutes. Zemun must study the two yellow cards that led to the dismissal. Strong challenges can help in a rivalry match, but poor timing can leave the team with a much harder task.

Both teams also need to examine their final passes. OFK created enough control to reach more shooting positions, while Zemun needed a clearer route from a recovery to the opposing penalty area.

The victory moves OFK forward in the table

OFK Beograd now has eight points after six league matches. The victory follows a difficult start and gives the team a stronger position before the next round. Zemun remains on one point after six matches. The team competed after losing a player, but it must improve its discipline and create more reliable chances in the next game.

The rivalry match was decided by two clear moments: De Bar's goal and the second yellow card for Ljubomirac. OFK managed both periods better and earned all three points.