The past sports weekend was marked by victories for Hajduk’s footballers and Crvenka and Sivac’s handball players.

In the ARKUS League of Serbia’s play-out Group A, Crvenka’s handball players hosted Obilić from Belgrade and recorded an important victory, winning 27:24. The “Squirrels” did not perform particularly well in the first half: they were too nervous, made too many technical errors, and missed clear-cut chances. In the 15 minute, Obilić even built a five-goal lead. This seemed to bring the home team to their senses, and they began to play with great determination and discipline, taking the lead for the first time in the 29 minute, at 12:11. In the second half, the teams traded goals until the 40 minute, after which the Crvenka players took control of the court. In the 48 minute they went four goals ahead, leading 23:19, and then sought to protect their advantage in the closing stages, ultimately succeeding in holding on for the win. Dragisa Racic was Crvenka’s top scorer and best player, with 8 goals. Crvenka is still bottom of the play-out group table, but has drawn considerably closer to its rivals. Since it plays its next two matches at home, its chances of avoiding relegation are now more realistic.
Next round, Crvenka’s handball players host Šamot from Aranđelovac.

Sivac’s handball players continued their winning streak this spring. They recorded a win in their fourth match of the second half of the Super B League season. In the 13 round, Sivac played away in Bogatić, where they defeated the hosts, Mačva, 34:28, with the score at halftime 17:14. The first half was a goal-for-goal affair, but late in the first period Branko Žeželj’s side managed to pull four goals ahead, leading 17:13. This made their task considerably easier in the second half, when they followed coach Žeželj’s game plan and eventually extended their lead. The win was all the more significant because Sivac were without their most experienced player, Kalić, who is coming out of quarantine, as well as playmaker Slavuljica, who is expecting a new addition to his family. Marko Čabai was Sivac’s top scorer with 8 goals, Beslać scored seven, and Dušan Furtula earned Player of the Match honors with six goals. Sivac 69 are currently fourth in the standings with 15 points, and now have two home games ahead of them. On Wednesday, they will host Kolubara from Lazarevac, and on Saturday, Voždovac from Belgrade.

Football news coming up

In the 23 round of the Serbian League, Vojvodina Group, Hajduk’s footballers beat Backa from Subotica 3:0 at the Kula stadium, with the halftime score at 1:0. Hajduk played very well, controlling the game throughout and creating chances, three of which they converted into goals. The visitors’ net was breached in the 24 minute, when their captain scored an own goal after a cross from Vujosevic. Matijevic opened the second half with a superb free-kick goal, then in the 65 minute missed the chance to score his second and Hajduk’s third goal from a correctly awarded penalty. However, in the 70 minute, Hajduk captain Slobodan Vukovic converted a penalty to make the final score 3:0 in Hajduk’s favor. Hajduk are twelfth in the table with 32 points, and in the next round they will visit 1 Maj Ruma in Ruma.

Crvenka’s footballers have continued their winning run this spring. In round 20 of the North Group of the Vojvodina League, Crvenka hosted ČSK Pivara from Čelarevo. Severely weakened by the absence of suspended goalkeepers Gostović and Marko Kerekeš, as well as experienced player Zelić, Milan Vujaković’s team found the strength to overcome all these setbacks and beat ČSK Pivara 2:1. The visitors took the first half, but Crvenka’s players dominated the pitch in the second, pinning their opponents in their own half. Their performance paid off with goals from Šakić and Končar, securing Crvenka’s third consecutive win this spring and a final score of 2:1. Crvenka are currently eleventh in the table with 24 points, and next round they travel to Tavankut.

Rusyn footballers from Ruski Krstur are keeping up their momentum. In the 20th round of the Sombor District League, Rusyn visited Bački Gračac and beat BSK 3:1, with the halftime score 1:0 in favor of the Krstur side. Rusyn coach Zlatko Sajanković was pleased with the performance of his players, especially the defense, which, though young, looked very experienced. Danojević scored twice for Rusyn in Bački Gračac, and Černok scored once. This was Rusyn’s third consecutive win, which moved them into second place in the table with 41 points, and in the next round they will host Omladinac from Bukovac.

The fifteenth round of the Sombor Intermunicipal League First Division was marked by the spring’s big derby, as second-placed Lipar and league leaders Bratstvo from Prigrevica faced off in Lipar. The leaders won, with Bratstvo deservedly taking the victory by 2:0. Lipar were weakened for the derby, as goalkeeper Zrakić and one of their best players, Banović, were injured, but they put up strong resistance against the visitors. Had Lipar centre-forward Luka Kovač been more composed, the outcome of the derby might have been different: he had three excellent chances but failed to convert them. Kula beat Dunav 3:0 away in Bački Monoštor. Bukajlović, Gačević and Holovčuk scored the goals that gave young coach Slobodan Kukoљ his second coaching victory. Sivački Polet drew 1:1 with Terekveš in Svilojevo, with Marko Varga scoring the goal that earned Sivac a point. Our fourth representative, Mladost from Kruščić, lost 3:0 away to hosts Dinamo in Bački Breg. Lipar remain second in the table with 36 points, Kula are fourth with 25, Polet are sixth with 22, and Mladost are bottom with one point. In the next, 16 round of the championship, Lipar have a bye, Kula host Dinamo from Bački Breg, Mladost host Jedinstvo from Ribarevo in a bottom-of-the-table derby in Kruščić, while Polet host Omladinac from Deronje in Sivac.

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Hajduk’s basketball team suffered its first defeat in the fourth round of the First Serbian League play-offs. Away in Gajdobra, Hajduk lost 109:75 to hosts Hercegovac, with the half-time score at 56:40. Hajduk coach Danilo Borović says the hosts lived up to their status as favourites: they have suffered just one defeat so far this season and are certain to earn promotion. They also played their best game so far, making his team’s defeat inevitable. According to Borović, Hajduk are now turning their attention to the upcoming games, as their goal is to finish as high as possible in the standings. Tešović and Škrbić put in notable performances for Hajduk, as did young Kuveljić, who made excellent use of his playing time and scored 15 points. With six wins and four losses, Hajduk are currently third in the table. In the next play-off round, they travel to Inđija to face Železničar.

Hajduk’s volleyball players recorded their eighth consecutive win in the 14 round of the First Vojvodina League. Playing at home in Kula, they defeated Dunav Volley 2 from Novi Sad by a maximum 3:0 sets to nil. The first set was the most exciting, with Hajduk winning it by a narrow margin, 26:24. After the hard-fought first set, Hajduk showed their true form in the remaining two, winning the second 25:7 and the third 25:18, to record a straight-sets victory. Hajduk lead the league table with 37 points, and will host Strazilovo from Sremski Karlovci in the next round.

In a postponed match in round 9 of the First Serbian League, Vojvodina Group, Hajduk’s bowlers lost 6:2 on points to hosts Spartak in Debeljača, or 3311:3151 in pins knocked down. Duško Adžić, with 557 pins, and Darko Milović, who knocked down 543 pins, scored points for Hajduk. Hajduk’s bowlers are currently ninth in the table with 4 points.

Đ. Bojanić