FK IMT Belgrad claimed a gritty 1-0 away victory over FK Čukarički in the Serbian Mozzart Bet Superliga on a humid July night at the Čukarički Stadium. The lone goal, scored early in the second half, proved enough to send the traveling supporters home happy and hand the home side their first defeat of the season.

Match Overview

The opening minutes saw both teams feeling each other out, with Čukarički enjoying slightly more possession but struggling to carve clear chances against a disciplined IMT defense. The hosts, known for their quick transitions, found themselves frustrated by the compact midfield block deployed by the visitors.

FK IMT Belgrad, coming into the match on the back of a strong defensive run, absorbed pressure well and looked dangerous on the counter. Their patience was rewarded in the 54th minute when a swift break down the left flank ended with a low cross that was turned home by substitute striker Marko Jovanović – his first goal of the campaign.

Key Moments

• 31' – Čukarički chance: Winger Nikola Stanković cut inside from the right but saw his curling effort tipped over the bar by IMT goalkeeper Stefan Vasić.
• 54' – IMT breakthrough: A rapid counter-attack caught Čukarički’s backline out of shape. Jovanović arrived at the far post to finish from six yards out.
• 72' – Red card drama: Čukarički defender Dušan Marković was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle, reducing the home side to ten men for the final quarter.
• 89' – Desperate push: The hosts threw bodies forward, but Vasić made a superb double save to preserve the clean sheet.

Tactical Story

Čukarički lined up in their usual 4-3-3, aiming to dominate the flanks with pace. However, IMT’s 5-4-1 setup frustrated them, forcing crosses into a well-organized defense. The away side’s game plan relied on quick transitions, and it worked perfectly – their goal came from exactly that pattern. After the red card, Čukarički’s numerical disadvantage made a comeback even steeper, and IMT comfortably saw out the win by dropping deep and protecting the central channels.

Standout Players

• Stefan Vasić (IMT Belgrad): The goalkeeper made five saves, two of them in stoppage time, to earn his second clean sheet of the season.
• Marko Jovanović (IMT Belgrad): Came off the bench to score the winner and added energy to the frontline when it was needed most.
• Petar Đorđević (Čukarički): The central midfielder worked tirelessly, completing 89% of his passes, but lacked support in the final third.

Season Impact

The result leaves FK Čukarički with 10 points from 6 matches, slipping to 7th in the Mozzart Bet Superliga table. For FK IMT Belgrad, the victory lifts them to 12 points and 3rd place, keeping pressure on the leaders. With three wins in their last four outings, IMT is proving to be a tough nut to crack, while Čukarički will need to regroup quickly before their next fixture against a relegation-threatened side.