Novi Beograd Forces Final Showdown with Grueling Win Over Radnički

It’s all coming down to one final match.

On Wednesday, May 21, the Serbian championship will be decided in Kragujevac, where Radnički will fight for its second national title and Novi Beograd will chase a third. After a chaotic and emotionally charged Game 2, Novi Beograd emerged victorious 13–11 to tie the series, setting up a winner-takes-all finale.

The game in Belgrade was defined by intensity and disorder. Over 30 exclusions and numerous offensive fouls meant the match dragged on for nearly 80 minutes. There were brilliant goals, brutal fouls, mutual exclusions, and mounting frustration on both sides—especially in a third quarter marked by nerves and controversy.

Scorers:
For Novi Beograd: Vlahopoulos 4, Vučinić 2, Martinović 2, Gbadamasi 2, Ćuk 1, Skumpakis 1, Lukić 1
For Radnički: N. Jakšić 2, Pijetlović 2, Dadvani 2, Murišić 1, Rašović 1, Vapenski 1, Drašović 1, Vasić 1

Quarter scores: 5–5, 3–3, 2–0, 3–3

In the first quarter, the match was a back-and-forth spectacle. Both teams exchanged goals constantly, combining for 10 total in the opening eight minutes. Radnički converted all four of their extra-player opportunities, while Novi Beograd failed to score on either of their first and last man-up chances. Vlahopoulos was relentless, scoring three straight and putting immense pressure on Filipović. Meanwhile, Pijetlović stood out for Radnički with clever movement and reliable finishing.

The second quarter followed the same script—no team able to build a cushion. Martinović and Gbadamasi gave Novi Beograd brief leads, but Dadvani’s two goals in 20 seconds flipped the score to 8–7 for Radnički. After the half, Vlahopoulos delivered a pinpoint assist to Skumpakis to tie things up again.

Radnički suffered a setback when Vasić was fouled out early in the third period. Tension peaked when Stanojević was excluded for brutality against Lukić, allowing Vlahopoulos to convert the penalty. Vučinić added another, but opportunities were scarce. Frequent offensive fouls disrupted any rhythm. As frustration grew, both benches expressed discontent with the refereeing. Still, Novi Beograd entered the fourth quarter with a 10–8 lead—the first two-goal margin in the series so far.

Martinović opened the final period with a stroke of luck, scoring after the ball deflected off the post and then Filipović to make it 11–8. Jakšić kept Radnički alive with goals on two consecutive power plays, reducing the deficit to 11–10. Rašović had a chance to level the game but was denied by a critical block from Lukić, who then scored on the following attack to restore the two-goal cushion. Gbadamasi followed with a long-range strike to make it 13–10 and silence the visiting bench.

Murišić’s late goal brought Radnički back within reach, and with under two minutes to play, Stevanović called a timeout. But Jakšić’s shot went high, and Rašović couldn’t convert on the counter. Time ran out—and so did Radnički’s chances.

Now, the Serbian title will be decided in Kragujevac, in a decisive third game between two evenly matched rivals.