OFK Beograd 1-2 Gaziantep FK: Turkish Side Edges Pre-Season Friendly

In a tightly contested international club friendly on 29 July 2026, Gaziantep FK secured a 2-1 victory over Serbian outfit OFK Beograd at the Stadion na Karaburmi. The match provided both teams with valuable minutes in their pre-season preparations, and it was the Turkish Süper Lig side that showed greater efficiency in the final third.

Match Summary

OFK Beograd started brightly, pressing high and forcing early errors from the Gaziantep defence. Their pressure paid off in the 14th minute when a scrappy corner fell to Marko Jovanović, who rifled a low shot into the bottom corner. The home fans’ joy was short-lived, however. Gaziantep equalised just eight minutes later through a well-struck free kick by Mustafa Yılmaz, who curled the ball over the wall and into the top left.

The second half saw a more cautious approach from both teams as managers rotated heavily. Gaziantep took the lead in the 67th minute when a swift counter-attack ended with Emre Kılıç slotting home after a fine through ball from Ahmet Demir. OFK Beograd pushed for an equaliser but lacked the cutting edge against a well-organised Gaziantep backline.

Key Moments

• 14' Goal: Marko Jovanović (OFK Beograd) – clinical finish from a set piece.
• 22' Goal: Mustafa Yılmaz (Gaziantep) – superb free kick from 25 yards.
• 67' Goal: Emre Kılıç (Gaziantep) – composed finish on the break.
• 78' Miss: OFK Beograd’s substitute striker headed over from six yards.
• 88' Save: Gaziantep goalkeeper tipped a long-range effort onto the bar.

Tactical Observations

OFK Beograd set up in a traditional 4-2-3-1, looking to control midfield through Stefan Petrović and Nikola Radović. Gaziantep, meanwhile, used a flexible 3-5-2 that allowed them to overload the flanks in transition. The Turkish side’s fitness levels appeared higher in the second half, as they managed the game well after taking the lead. OFK Beograd’s inability to convert possession into clear chances highlighted areas for improvement ahead of their domestic season.

Standout Players

• Mustafa Yılmaz (Gaziantep): His free-kick goal was the standout moment; he linked play intelligently.
• Emre Kılıç (Gaziantep): Poacher’s finish and constant movement troubled the home defence.
• Marko Jovanović (OFK Beograd): Scored the opener and worked hard defensively.

Pre-Season Context

For OFK Beograd, this friendly continues their build-up to the Serbian SuperLiga, where they aim to improve on last season’s mid-table finish. Gaziantep FK are preparing for another competitive campaign in the Turkish Süper Lig, and this victory builds momentum after a string of training-ground sessions. Both managers will have taken valuable lessons from the encounter as they finalise their starting XIs for the upcoming season.