The Preliminary Stage of our first ever SuperLiga season is done. We dropped off in the final couple of games, and missed out on finishing in the top half!!
The groups for the Final Stage have been drawn and we only need to finish in the top FOUR places to avoid the relegation playoffs. That’s the equivalent to finishing between 9th and 12th in the Preliminary Stage.
Up first is Radnicki Nis. They finished NINE POINTS behind us and are only narrowly keeping themselves out of the bottom two. We did the double over them in the Preliminary Stage, and our confidence is boosted further with news that our top goalscorer, Edin Kesic, has returned to training. He missed the run in, and that quite possibly played a part in the less than stellar finish.
He’s not ready for the starting line-up, but it’ll be a massive morale boost for the players to see him on the bench. Petronijevic returns to the starting line-up, as does Milovanovic. He’ll partner Vjestica in defence, whilst Petronijevic replaces Paunovic.
MATCH DAY!!!! It’s an even start to an important match. Timotic has the ball in the net twice, but has them both chalked off for offside. Toroman, at the other end, comes to Feniks rescue with a fantastic one-on-one save to keep the scores level. FENIKS FINALLY GET THE BREAKTHROUGH IN THE 20TH MINUTE. TIMOTIC, DROPPING DEEPER TO AVOID THE OFFSIDE TRAP, LAYS THE BALL OFF TO PETRONIJEVIC. HE PASSES FIRST TIME INTO THE PATH OF LEVICANIN. LEVICANIN STROKES THE BALL HOME FROM 12 YARDS OUT!!! 1-0 FENIKS!!Just four minutes later, Levicanin has the chance to double his tally. He takes to long to round the keeper though and the defence gets back to crowd him out. ON THE HALF HOUR, RADNICKI FIND A WAY BACK INTO THE MATCH!!! MITROVIC PLAYS A BALL INTO SKRBIC. HE TAKES ONE TOUCH AND UNLEASHES A THUNDERBOLT FROM 20 YARDS OUT!! TOROMAN MAKES A DIVE BUT CAN’T GET NEAR IT!!!! 1-1 AND GAME ON!!! Radnicki struggle to gain any momentum from the goal though, as Feniks go straight back on the front foot. THE PRESSURE PAYS OFF JUST TEN MINUTES LATER. LEVICANIN IS INVOLVED AGAIN, AS HE WINS THE BALL IN MIDFIELD AND MOVES IT ON TO CUMIC. CUMIC, IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LINES, TURNS AND PLAYS A PERFECTLY WEIGHTED BALL INTO THE PATH OF TIMOTIC. HE BARELY HAS TO BREAK STRIDE AS HE ROUNDS THE KEEPER AND SLOTS IT HOME!!! 2-1 FENIKS!!! Halftime comes around, and it’s been an even first period. Chances, both on target and off, are equal and Feniks have the slightest of advantages in possession. What we DO have though, is the goal advantage. The players are praised and sent back out to finish the job.
SECOND HALF The second period starts as the first ended. WITH A FENIKS GOAL!!! ALEKSIC WINS, AND TAKES, A CORNER ON THE RIGHT. HIS CROSS IS TO THE NEAR POST AND VJESTICA GETS UP EARLY AND SLAMS HOME HIS HEADER!!! 3-1 FENIKS!! Edin Kesic makes his return to action with a little over ten minutes left, BUT IT’S THE MIDFIELD THAT PUTS THE GAME TO BED IN THE 90TH MINUTE!! ALEKSIC, AGAIN, IS THE PROVIDER AS HE SPOTS THE RUN OF PETRONIJEVIC AND SPLITS THE RADNICKI DEFENCE WITH HIS PASS. PETRONIJEVIC HITS IT FIRST TIME, ACROSS THE KEEPER, AND THE BALL NESTLES IN THE BOTTOM CORNER!!! 4-1 FENIKS!!! The second half finishes as even as the first, with the only genuine difference between the teams being the ruthless way we finished our chances!!!
The win lifts us 12 points clear of automatic relegation, and five clear of the playoffs.
Up next is one of the tougher games in the group, but at least it’s TSC coming to visit us, rather than the other way round!!
The build up the the TSC game is marred by Jovanovic, and his manager, spitting their dummies out over his perceived lack of playing time. Seeing as he’s averaged a paltry 6.6 in his games this season, I’m in no mood to back down, and it appears that the fans back me as well!!
There’s no changes needed, nor wanted, from the eleven that beat Radnicki Nis. Cumic has played over 600 minutes without scoring, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep him in the squad. Both Miletic and Teodorovic PLUS Kesic are all breathing down his neck. Another blank here might well see him out the team.
MATCH DAY!!!! Cumic is given a private chat, telling him that he needs to score else he’s out. We’ll see if it works it’s magic as the first half begins! Feniks have TWO glorious chances to take an early lead. Aleksic from clips the post with a free kick, then Levicanin has a better chance but can only drag his shot wide when clean through. THEN, JUST AFTER THE QUARTER HOUR MARK, ILIC PICKS THE POCKET OF THE TSC FULL BACK AND RELEASES CUMIC. HE’S 30 YARDS FROM GOAL BUT MANAGES TO HOLD OFF THE CHASING DEFENDERS. THE TSC KEEPER COMES OUT TO CLOSE THE ANGLE AND IT’S A BEAUTIFULLY WEIGHTED CHIP THAT FINSHES THE MOVE AND OPENS CUMIC’S ACCOUNT WITH FENIKS!!!! 1-0 FENIKS!! Twenty minutes later, after a sustained period of pressure that has Feniks camped on the edge of the TSC area. CUMIC PICKS THE BALL UP ON THE RIGHT OF THE AREA AND PLAYS IT IN TO PETRONIJEVIC. HE BEATS ONE MAN AND FEEDS LEVICANIN. LEVICANIN HAS HIS BACK TO GOAL AND SURROUNDED BY DEFENDERS. HE STILL MANAGES TO TWIST, TURN AND SHOOT WITHOUT LOSING THE BALL. THE BALL IS PAST THE TSC KEEPER WITHOUT HIM EVEN SEEING IT!!! 2-0 FENIKS!! The first half draws to a close and we’re in near complete control.
SECOND HALF We continue the domination after the restart, and it’s not long before we extend our lead. ALEKSIC AGAIN IS AT THE HEART OF THINGS. HIS CORNER IS HEADED AWAY TO GARCIA ON THE EDGE OF THE AREA, HE LAYS IT OFF BACK TO ALEKSIC AND CONTINUES HIS RUN TOWARDS THE BOX. ALEKSIC FINDS HIM AND GARCIA’S FIRST TIME SHOT IS LIKE A MISSILE!! ARROW STRAIGHT INTO THE TOP CORNER!!!! WHAT A WAY TO OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT!!! 3-0 FENIKS AND IT’S SURELY GAME OVER NOW!! Miletic comes on to replace the under performing Timotic, AND IT’S HIS BALL TO PETRONIJEVIC THAT SETS UP THE FOURTH. PETRONIJEVIC REACHES THE BALL ON THE BY-LINE AND JUST KEEPS IT IN PLAY. HE FLASHES OVER A LOW CROSS AND LUKA CUMIC IS ON THE MOVE FIRST!!! IT’S AN EASY, ONE YARD TAP IN FOR CUMIC, AND HE DOUBLES HIS TALLY!!! 4-0 FENIKS!! There’s still twenty minutes to play. TSC finally manage to find a way to shut us down and it’s not until time added on that we get another chance. OF COURSE, IT’S ALEKSIC AT THE HEART OF THE GOAL. HIS CORNER, INTO THE NEAR POST AGAIN, IS MET BY AGAIN BY VJESTICA AND AT THE VERY END OF THE TIME SHOWN BY THE FOURTH OFFICIAL IT’S AN INCREDIBLY DESERVED 5-0!!!! WAIT THOUGH…..VAR IS LOOKING AT IT…..IS CUMIC STANDING OFFSIDE? YES, YES HE IS!!! GOAL RULED OUT!! There’s barely time for the keeper to take the free kick as the ref blows time and ends the torment for TSC!! FINAL SCORE 4-0 FENIKS!!! We really did dominate the game. 60/40 on the possession and a MASSIVE twenty chances. Admittedly we only managed 7 on target.
We’re on the verge on being declared safe from automatic relegation.
FOURTEEN points from the last relegation spot with just FIFTEEN left available. A trip to Sloga is up next, and with it a chance for another three points.
With just the three days between games, there’s not much time for rest and as the Sloga match rolls around, it’s just too soon for Timotic. He steps aside and allows Kesic to come back into the starting line-up. The only other change is a tired Milovanovic being rested for Vojinovic. The players are told that if we win, we avoid automatic relegation and they are charged up for this one!!
MATCH DAY!!!! You can almost sense the tension coming from the Sloga team AND IT’S A VERY EARLY FREE KICK THAT SEES THE BALL NESTLE IN THE BACK OF THE NET!! ALEKSIC RACKS UP ANOTHER ASSIST AS HIS FREE KICK, AIMED AT THE BACK POST, IS MET BY CUMIC. IT’S A LOOPING HEADER BACK ACROSS GOAL AND REBOUNDS IN OFF THE FAR POST!!!! 1-0 FENIKS!!…..WAIT THOUGH….THERE’S A FLAG UP…..
I’D SAY IT’S TIGHT….BUT THE ONLY THING TO DISCUSS IS WHO IS THE MOST OFFSIDE!!! Out of nowhere……and against the early run of play…..SLOGA STEAL THE LEAD!!! RADIVOJEVIC GETS THE BETTER OF GARCIA AND DRIVES INTO THE BOX. HIS CROSS IS BLOCKED BUT THE BALL FALLS TO GRBOVIC. IT’S A SIMPLE SQUARE BALL TO ARNAUTOVIC AND HIS FINISHES WITH STYLE!!! 1-0 SLOGA!!! We’re shell-shocked!! Our passes aren’t connecting and the runs aren’t being seen. ARNAUTOVIC PICKS OFF AN ATTEMPTED ALEKSIC PASS AND RELEASES THE PACE OF RADIVOJEVIC. HE OUTSTRIPS VJESTICA AND FIRES PAST TOROMAN!!! 2-0 SLOGA AND WE’VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO NOW!! There’s still only 15 minutes gone and plenty of time to get back in to the match. Things get even harder for us on the half hour as Petronijevic goes down injured. His replacement is Miletic, and brings about a change to the narrow diamond formation. We manage to stop Sloga from embarrassing us anymore, but we don’t make any in roads on the scoreline in the first half.
SECOND HALF The players are dragged over hot coals in the changing room and sent back out knowing full well that they’ve NOT made me angry, THEY’VE JUST DISAPPOINTED ME!!
Radivojevic puts the game beyond reach on the hour mark. HE AND ARNAUTOVIC COMBINE AGAIN, AND RADIVOJEVIC’S PACE IS A KILLER AS HE BEATS VOJINOVIC THIS TIME AND CRASHES A SHOT PAST TOROMAN!! 2-0 SLOGA!!! We slowly, probably too slowly, creep back into the match and WITH JUST UNDER TWENTY MINUTES TO PLAY VOJINOVIC MEETS ALEKSIC’S CORNER AND DRAGS FENIKS BACK INTO THINGS!! 3-1 SLOGA!! Just as I thought we had found a way back into the game ARNAUTOVIC AND RADIVOJEVIC COMBINE AGAIN TO SCORE SLOGA’S FOURTH!! THIS TIME IT’S RADIVOJEVIC SETTING UP ARNAUTOVIC AT THE BACK POST TO SLAM HOME!!! 4-1 SLOGA!! This is the type of result that we had when playing Sloga last season and probably half as many goals as they’ve scored all season!! The ref calls time on our embarrassment and Sloga go home with all three points! FINAL SCORE 4-1 SLOGA!!
We were ahead in pretty much every statistical category EXCEPT the goals scored!! Radivojevic and Arnautovic ripped us apart and we had no answer.
Petronijevic is done. It’s a serious, VERY SERIOUS, injury that rules him out for the rest of the season.
He’s damaged his spine and Kolubara recall him from the loan. He’ll will be treated at his parent club and I’ll be watching from the distance to see when he returns.
Our season is hanging by a thread. We were looking sooooo comfortable, but the terrible performance against Sloga means we are just 5 points from the relegation playoffs. There’s just the one definite change for the Subotica game, the Petronijevic injury means a space opens up for Radmilovic to start and Paunovic to move onto the bench.
MATCH DAY!!! The players are told that their future is in their hands and they take the field in high spirits. The opening minutes are played almost exclusively in the Subotica half, Kesic has a great chance but his shot is pushed wide. Then, against the run of play, SUBOTICA TAKE THE LEAD!! IT’S A CROSS FROM THE RIGHT THAT’S DEFLECTED OUT TO THE EDGE OF THE AREA. AS THE FENIKS DEFENCE PUSHES OUT, GARCIA IS LEFT BEHIND AND PLAYS KOPUNOVIC ONSIDE!!! 1-0 SUBOTICA!!! Despite having the most of the ball AND chances, we’ve managed to find ourselves behind. The ref blows to bring the first half to a close and the players are in for a dressing down!!
SECOND HALF The verbal tongue-lashing seems to make ZERO DIFFERENCE as play resumes. VOJINOVIC, DESPITE HAVING ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAY SHORT PASSES, LUMPS A BALL STRAIGHT TO THE SUBOTICAN DEFENCE. IT COMES STRAIGHT BACK AND MIRCEVSKI FIRES IT ACROSS TOROMAN TO MAKE IT 2-0!!! Kesic has a chance to score an instant reply, but somehow manages to snatch at his shot and it sails harmlessly wide. It’s his final action of the match as BOTH strikers are replaced. Miletic and Timotic coming on in the hope that fresh legs and different roles will make the difference!! Even a change to three up top makes no difference to the way the match is playing out. Subotica absolutely bossed the second half. They switched the possession stats and finished with 61% of the ball. We had more chances in the end the but result was exactly what we deserved!! FINAL SCORE 2-0 SUBOTICA!!
We’ve got to get a result next time out. We’re on back to back losses at a time of the season that we REALLY can’t afford to lose games. Surdulica are next to visit the Feniks Arena. They’re level on points with us now, and only our superior goal difference is keeping us above them. We are still five points clear of the relegation playoffs, but need to snap out of it quick sharpish.
There’s no problems with injuries or suspensions, so it’s a totally unchanged eleven that will take the field in what could be, a relegation-avoiding decider!!
MATCH DAY!!!! Surdulica come out the blocks hot. They keep the ball for the first five minutes. BUT IT’S FENIKS THAT MAKE THE BREAKTHROUGH!!! ALEKSIC SENDING OVER A CORNER THATS MET AGAIN BY VOJINOVIC AT THE NEAR POST!!! 1-0 FENIKS AFTER 8 MINUTES!!!! We are relentless. Pressing again straight from the restart RADMILOVIC SLAMMING HOME AN EFFORT JUST FIVE MINUTES LATER!!! ALEKSIC IS THE CREATOR AGAIN, THIS TIME LOFTING A BALL OVER THE TOP…..WAIT….THE ASSISTANTS FLAG IS UP!! AND IT’S RULED OUT!! It’s Kesic rather than the, running from deep Radmilovic that is offside. Still we stay on the front foot. Luka Cumic bends a beaut of a shot from the edge of the area that hits the post on it’s way wide. The first half comes to an end, and after playing defence for the first 5 minutes, it’s a dominant performance from Feniks. Just the one goal in it though, so we’ll need stay on our toes!!
SECOND HALF!!!! We come out the changing rooms and carry on as if nothing happened. After just five minutes Garcia fires over from the angle of the area, and Aleksic has a chance himself to extend Feniks lead on the hour. WE FINALLY GET THE SECOND GOAL THOUGH WITH JUST UNDER 15 MINUTES LEFT TO PLAY. QUICK PASSING INTERPLAY ON THE EDGE OF THE SURDULICA AREA SEES MILETIC FEED THE UNDERLAPPING LEVICANIN AND HIS SHOT IS LIFTED OVER THE KEEPER INTO THE FAR CORNER!!! 2-0 FENIKS AND WE SHOULD BE SECURE NOW!!! The second goal finally seems to wake Surdulica up. LUKIC, ON THE SURDULICAN LEFT, LEADS GARCIA ON A MERRY CHASE BEFORE LIFTING OVER A CROSS THAT’S MISSED VOJINOVIC. IT DROPS KINDLY AT THE FEET OF DURONJIC AND JUST LIKE THAT IT’S A ONE GOAL GAME AGAIN!!! 2-1 FENIKS!! It is nothing more than a false dawn for Surdulica though. Feniks close ranks and see out the final 5 minutes. The ref brings the game to a close and it’s Feniks who are the one’s that grasp safety!! FINAL SCORE 2-1 FENIKS!!
Results go our way elsewhere, meaning we are EIGHT POINTS from the relegation playoff spots and just SIX POINTS available!!
We. Are. SAFE!!!!!
The board are happy, as they should be, to have avoided relegation with two games to spare. It gives me the opportunity to give games to a couple of players who have waited patiently on the sidelines. Javor Ivanjica are up next, they’ve slipped through the trap-door back to the second division but will be playing for pride.
There are changes a plenty for the penultimate game of the season. Radmilovic strains his abdominal muscle ruling him out the last two games. Paunovic will come in for him. Nikolic is making way for the young Belgian Lardaux and Kesic stands aside for Miletic.
MATCH DAY!!!! There’s a party atmosphere in the changing rooms before the game, and it carries over onto the pitch!! PAUNOVIC CROSSING FROM THE EDGE OF THE AREA AND CUMIC LEAPING HIGHEST TO PLANT HIS HEADER INTO THE BOTTOM CORNER!!! 1-0 FENIKS AFTER JUST 5 MINUTES!!! Javor keep us honest straight from the restart, but the effort sails over the bar. Levicanin then has a chance on ten minutes, but his dinked shot bounces inches wide!!! WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO DOUBLE OUR LEAD IN THE 16TH MINUTE THOUGH. LEVICANIN TURNS QUICKLY IN THE JAVOR AREA AND IS TRIPPED BY DUKIC. THE REF POINTS TO THE SPOT…….BUT VAR OVERRULES HIM!! NO PENALTY!! The Feniks players are incensed and Ilic is booked for protesting too much!! WE DO GET THE SECOND GOAL LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER THOUGH!! JAVOR CLEAR THE BALL LONG FOLLOWING THE RESTART, AND THE BALL DROPS TO LARDAUX. HE MOVES FORWARD WITH THE BALL AND SPOTS THE RUN OF MILETIC. HIS LOFTED, BENDING THROUGH BALL DROPS AT THE FEET OF MILETIC AND HIS FIRST TIME SHOT FIZZES PAST THE KEEPER!!! 2-0 FENIKS!!! Javor begin to grow into the game and test the Feniks defence. Vojinovic and Vjestica stand strong though AND ON THE STROKE OF HALF TIME FENIKS MAKE IT THREE!! PAUNOVIC FINISHING OFF A MOVE THAT STARTED AT THE BACK AND ENDS WITH MILETIC LAYING IT ON A PLATE FOR PAUNOVIC!!!! 3-0 FENICKS!!
SECOND HALF!!!! There is nothing but praise coming the way of the Feniks players at half time, and while Javor make ALL THREE SUBS during the break, we retake the field in high spirits!! THE CHANGE OF PERSONNEL CHANGES NOTHING TO THE FLOW OF THE GAME!! JUST 90 SECONDS AFTER THE RESTART MILETIC HAS HIS SECOND OF THE GAME. ALEKSIC AT HIS CREATIVE BEST AGAIN, PLAYING A PASS INTO SPACE FOR MILETIC TO RUN ON TO. HIS SHOT IS ACROSS THE KEEPER AND AFTER A QUICK VAR REVIEW THE GOAL STANDS!!! 4-0 FENIKS!! Javor lose their heads after this. Within a minute of the fourth goal, Levicanin has a chance to make it five!! He’s sent through by Miletic but his shot has too much on it and it sails safely over. THERE IS A FIFTH GOAL THOUGH!! ON THE HOUR MARK, GARCIA LIFT A BALL INTO THE PATH OF LUKA CUMIC. HE SPRINGS THE JAVOR OFFSIDE TRAP, ROUNDS THE KEEPER AND SLOTS THE BALL INTO THE EMPTY NET TO MAKE IT 5-0!! Timotic and Basaric are brought on to rest some weary legs and see out the game. There’s no more action and the ref brings as end to Javor’s suffering!! FINAL SCORE 5-0 FENIKS!!
That was the perfect way to continue to party atmosphere. Total domination and clinical finishing meant an easy ride and morale is sky high on the camp. The last game of the season is on the horizon and we welcome FK Novi Pazar to the Feniks Arena.
They’re sitting 4th in the Closing Stage but a distant 10 points away from us. It’s just goal difference that’s keeping them out of the playoff spots, although Radnicki Nis have a game in hand.
We make it through the week between games without an injuries or suspension, but there’s still a couple of changes to be made. Both Ilic and Paunovic are a yellow card away from a match suspension, they’re standing aside for Basaric and Timotic. Everyone else retains their place, as we look to finish the season with a win.
MATCH DAY!!!! With Novi Pazar fighting to keep themselves out of the relegation playoffs, it’s kind of predictable that they dominate the early going. We manage to keep them at arms length and as we start to grow into the match TIMOTIC BURSTS INTO THE NOVI PAZAR AREA, AND IS TRIPPED BY JOVANOVIC!!! VAR CONFIRMS THE ON FIELD DECISION AND ALEKSIC STEPS UP TO TAKE THE KICK…..IT’S LEFT FOOTED…..AND STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE!!!! 1-0 FENIKS!! It’s a goal against the run of play, as Novi Pazar have had the better of the early play. After the goal goes in, we turn of the pressure and keep the ball a lot better. The first half comes to an end with the chances brought closer together but we’re ahead on possession.
SECOND HALF Within a minute of the restart LEVICANIN SMASHES HOME AN EFFORT AFTER SOME SUMPTIOUS PASSING PLAY……VAR IS TAKING A LOOK THOUGH……BUT THERE’S NOTHING TO SEE AND THE GOALS STANDS!!! 2-0 FENIKS!!! The game is won. We close things down and attempt to see out the game. Novi Pazar come back at us and the frame of the goal saves our bacon on a couple of occasions. THAT BUCKS OUR IDEAS UP AND AS THE GAME DRAWS TO A CLOSE, SUBSTITUTE TEODOROVIC SPRINGS THE OFFSIDE TRAP TO SLIDE A FINISH PAST THE KEEPER!!! 3-0 FENIKS!! There’s no time left to Novi Pazar to much of anything, and it’s another clean sheet and we consign Novi Pazar to the relegation playoffs!!
It wasn’t a classic Feniks performance, but we grew into the game and once the first goal went in, there really wasn’t any other result on the cards!
The season is over. We’ve finished top of the closing stage and a massive NINTH in the overall table. The board wanted to TRY TO AVOID relegation and we did that in spades!!!! Can we build on this next season? WE’LL CERTAINLY TRY TO!!!
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