Crvena zvezda beat Novi Pazar with goals from Katai and Enem

Crvena zvezda defeated Novi Pazar 2-0 in the fourth round of the Serbian SuperLiga. Aleksandar Katai and Jay Enem scored the two goals.

Katai opened the scoring in first-half added time. Enem doubled the lead thirteen minutes after the interval.

Katai changed the match before halftime

The first half was moving toward a level score when Katai found space. He scored in the second minute of added time. Scoring at that moment gave Novi Pazar no full attack before the break. The visitors entered the dressing room one goal behind. Crvena zvezda had worked for space through patient possession. The late finish gave the home side a deserved lead.

Katai's goal also changed the second-half demands. Novi Pazar needed to move forward, while the home side could attack the new space. Crvena zvezda controlled much of the first half without scoring early. Novi Pazar kept compact distances and blocked several direct routes through the centre. The home side moved the ball patiently instead of forcing every attack into a crowded area. Katai finally found the opening during added time. His finish changed the mood immediately before the interval. Novi Pazar had almost no time to build a complete response before the whistle. The visitors therefore entered the second half needing a more ambitious approach. That change created wider spaces than those available during the opening forty minutes.

Enem added the second goal

Enem scored in the 58th minute and increased the lead to 2-0. The finish came before the first major group of substitutions. Novi Pazar now needed two goals to restore a level score. Crvena zvezda could protect possession without abandoning its attacks.

Jay Enem trains with the ball before scoring against Novi Pazar.

The second goal gave Crvena zvezda more control. It also rewarded the home side for a strong start after halftime. Enem remained on the pitch until the closing minutes. His contribution was already decisive because the score did not change again. Enem doubled the lead in the 58th minute after Zvezda started the second half strongly. The striker's movement gave the attack a direct option near the penalty area. Novi Pazar now needed two goals simply to restore a level score. That requirement forced the visitors to move more players forward. Zvezda could then use possession to slow the match or attack the new space. The second goal reduced the pressure on every later defensive action. Enem remained involved until the closing substitutions. His finish confirmed that the home side had converted its improved start after the break.

Crvena zvezda started with Mateus in goal. Seol, Veljković, Gudelj and Tiknizjan formed the defence, with Krunić and Elšnik in midfield. Katai and Enem provided the goals. Ivanić, Loizu and Šam-Saračević also supported the attacking work during the match. Several substitutions arrived after the lead became secure. Fresh players helped the team manage the final period and its wider schedule. Rotation did not remove the need for concentration. Novi Pazar continued looking for a route back into the contest until the final signal.

Novi Pazar stayed organised

Novi Pazar used a structured defence for much of the first half. The visitors kept the score level until the added-time goal. Falling behind forced them to take more risks after the interval. That change made the game more open and preceded Enem's finish. The visitors used their bench during the second half, including changes in the attacking positions. The adjustments did not produce a goal. A 0-2 defeat does not erase the earlier defensive work.

It shows that the team could not maintain that control across the full match. The home lineup combined experienced players with options who needed competitive minutes. Mateus worked behind Seol, Veljković, Gudelj and Tiknizjan. Krunić and Elšnik connected the defence with the attacking group. Katai and Enem supplied the goals, while teammates supported their movement around the box. Substitutions later protected energy without changing the structure completely. Novi Pazar also used fresh attackers while looking for a response. The visitors reached promising areas but could not beat Mateus. Zvezda's concentration after the second goal kept the final half-hour under control.

Crvena zvezda did not require another goal to secure the points. The team protected the two-goal lead through the remaining half hour. Mateus and the defence completed the match without conceding. Their work ensured that Novi Pazar never created a late finish with one goal between the teams. The home side also avoided turning the final phase into an uncontrolled exchange. Possession and substitutions reduced the number of dangerous transitions. The 2-0 score reflects two well-timed goals and a stable closing period. The result remained unchanged after Enem's finish. The 2-0 result gives Crvena zvezda three points from the fourth league round. It also gives the staff a completed match to review before the next European fixture. Domestic points and European qualification remain separate objectives within the schedule. Players selected in both games face a short recovery period between them. Katai's late first-half goal prevented a frustrating interval, while Enem's finish created a safer margin. The defence then protected its advantage without allowing a goal. Novi Pazar's organised opening remains useful evidence despite the defeat. The final record belongs to two well-timed finishes and a controlled home performance.

The victory adds three league points

Crvena zvezda receive three points from the home victory. Novi Pazar leave the fourth round without a share of the result. The match also supplied competitive minutes before Crvena zvezda's next European fixture. The team protected its lead without conceding. Katai scored in added time, while Enem added the second goal in the 58th minute.

Katai and Enem settled the match with goals on either side of halftime. Mateus and the defence prevented Novi Pazar from scoring. Set pieces and second balls also helped shape the territorial battle. Novi Pazar cleared several deliveries but then had to defend the next phase. Zvezda kept players around the edge of the area to recover loose balls. That pressure prevented the visitors from launching many direct counterattacks. When Novi Pazar did escape, the home defence delayed the move until support returned. Mateus therefore faced fewer clear finishes than the amount of possession might suggest. Mateus and the defenders prevented Novi Pazar from scoring. Their work completed a balanced result beside the two attacking goals.