11am 30 March 2025
Serbia, Prva Beogradska Liga, Group A
OFK Žarkovo 1 Dunav Veliko Selo 6 (att 40)
We dropped down to the fifth tier of Serbian football for a Sunday morning fixture. The suburb of Žarkovo is within an easy bus ride of the city centre, and had a team playing in the second division as recently as 2022.
Financial problems then caused OFK Žarkovo to drop down the leagues, and a further fall seems certain as they went into this match pointless at the bottom of the division.
As expected it was an easy win for Dunav. They scored three times in each half, and should have netted more, especially in the first half when they were guilty of missing easy chances.
Dunav's fourth goal was in the opening minute of the second half, and was followed by Žarkovo's single goal. Neither team was helped by the state of a very poor pitch.
Zarkovo's ground is a curious one. Most spectators were restricted to a few rows of uncovered seating built onto the side of a building. Opposite is a larger stand, also uncovered, from where four people watched the match. How they got to it remains a mystery to me.
Behind one goal is an enclosed terrace, empty for this game and presumably used to house visiting supporters when in the higher divisions. A second pitch runs at right angles at the other end.
Admission was free, and the official quoted attendance of 40 was generous when compared to my headcount. All in all it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning.
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