Novi Pazar produced a composed and clinical Serbian Cup away performance on Wednesday night, defeating FK Vozdovac Beograd 3-1 at the Stadion Voždovac to move into the next round.

The cup tie promised a tight contest between a home side eager to use local support and a Novi Pazar team built for quick transitions. What unfolded was a game of shifting momentum: Vozdovac began with energy and took an early lead, but Novi Pazar stayed calm, equalised before the break and then controlled the second half with sharper finishing and better game management.

Match overview

FK Vozdovac Beograd started the brighter of the two teams, pressing high and forcing Novi Pazar into a handful of hurried clearances. The home side’s reward arrived in the 19th minute when a quick move down the right created space inside the penalty area, and a low finish gave Vozdovac a deserved 1-0 lead.

Novi Pazar responded rather than retreated. Their midfield began to find pockets between Vozdovac’s lines, and the equaliser arrived in first-half stoppage time when a patient passing sequence ended with a composed finish from close range. That goal changed the mood of the tie and gave the visitors a platform to build on after the interval.

Key moments

The decisive spell came early in the second half. Novi Pazar took the lead in the 57th minute after winning the ball high up the pitch and converting a swift counter-attack. Vozdovac pushed men forward in search of an immediate response, but that left space behind, and Novi Pazar added a third in the 71st minute with a clinical finish after breaking through the home side’s stretched back line.

Vozdovac did not stop fighting. They forced several late corners and tested the Novi Pazar goalkeeper, but the visitors defended their box with discipline and managed the closing stages intelligently. The final score of 1-3 reflected both Novi Pazar’s ruthlessness in the key moments and Vozdovac’s failure to turn periods of pressure into clear chances.

Tactical story

Vozdovac’s approach was built on early intensity and wide overloads, and it worked well for the first half-hour. The home side looked to win the ball back quickly and attack before Novi Pazar could set their defensive shape. However, as the game wore on, their midfield began to leave gaps between the lines, and Novi Pazar’s central players used those spaces to dictate the tempo.

Novi Pazar’s second-half adjustment was simple but effective: they sat slightly deeper, invited Vozdovac forward and attacked the space behind the full-backs. The visitors’ substitutes also added fresh legs in wide areas, helping them maintain their counter-attacking threat until the final whistle.

Standout performers

• Novi Pazar’s midfield: The visitors’ central trio grew into the game and controlled the second half, winning second balls and launching quick attacks.
• Novi Pazar’s goalkeeper: He made important saves at 1-1 and 2-1, protecting his side’s advantage when Vozdovac pushed forward.
• Vozdovac’s wide players: They were the home side’s brightest attacking outlet, especially in the first half, but lacked the final product after the break.

What the result means

Novi Pazar advance with a confidence-boosting cup win and a performance that showed both resilience and clinical finishing. For FK Vozdovac Beograd, the Serbian Cup run ends, but the display offered useful lessons about managing transitions and protecting leads. The home side must now refocus on league commitments, while Novi Pazar can look ahead to the next round with momentum behind them.