Soccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Crvena Zvezda's Nemanja Milunovic celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Marko Djurica
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade fought back to earn a 3-1 home win against 10-man Olympiakos Piraeus in a pulsating Champions League Group B clash after late headers by Nemanja Milunovic and Richmond Boakye on Tuesday.
Olympiakos dominated the opening half and their striker Miguel Angel Guerrero twice came close before central defender Ruben Semedo fired the Greek side ahead with a fortuitous goal in the 37th minute.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Olympiacos' Ruben Semedo scores their first goal REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Giorgos Masouras floated a deep free kick into the penalty area and Semedo's cut-back across the face of goal at the far post went in off the outstretched arm of Red Star goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who should have done better.
After Olympiakos midfielder Yassine Benzia was sent off in the 58th minute for a second bookable foul, Red Star capitalised five minutes later when Milos Vulic drove a crisp low shot from 12 metres into the bottom left corner of the net following some slack defending by the visitors.
Borjan kept out Mohamed Camara's fierce long-range shot and Yassine Meriah fired wide from close range for Olympiakos before Milunovic and substitute Boakye struck in a frantic finish to delight the home fans.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Crvena Zvezda's Rajiv van La Parra in action with Olympiacos' Maximiliano Lovera and Giorgos Masouras REUTERS/Marko Djurica
The goals were almost a carbon copy of each other as Milunovic rose above his marker to head home an 87th-minute corner and Boakye followed in his footsteps three minutes later.
The result lifted Red Star to second place in the group on three points from two games, behind leaders Bayern Munich who have a maximum six after a 7-2 away rout of Tottenhem Hotspur. Olympiakos and Spurs have one point each.
The match was played in a rarely amicable atmosphere as visiting Olympiakos fans were given a red carpet reception by the home supporters, with rival groups mingling before the kick off and chanting each other's songs during the match.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Olympiacos' Maximiliano Lovera in action with Crvena Zvezda's Jose Canas REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Bonded by their kindred red-and-white colours as well as the Christian Orthodox faith shared by Serbs and Greeks, Red Star and Olympiakos fans have a long history of friendship and they also exchanged flags in the Rajko Mitic stadium.
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Crvena Zvezda's Milos Vulic celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Marko DjuricaSoccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Olympiacos' Mohamed Camara in action with Crvena Zvezda's Dusan Jovancic REUTERS/Marko DjuricaSoccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Olympiacos coach Pedro Martins during the match REUTERS/Marko DjuricaSoccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Olympiacos' Miguel Angel Guerrero heads at goal REUTERS/Marko DjuricaSoccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Crvena Zvezda's Marko Gobeljic in action with Olympiacos' Andreas Bouchalakis REUTERS/Marko DjuricaSoccer Football - Champions League - Group B - Crvena Zvezda v Olympiacos - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - October 1, 2019 Crvena Zvezda's Marko Gobeljic in action with Olympiacos' Andreas Bouchalakis REUTERS/Marko Djurica
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