THREE PLAYERS SENT OFF, Sarajevo Derby Ends Goalless, Muftić Hero for Željezničar!

(Patria) - Footballers of Željezničar and Sarajevo played the 152nd Sarajevo derby tonight at Grbavica as part of the 26th round of the Wwin league of BiH, and it ended with the unpopular result of 0:0, but on the other hand, a "sea" of cards was distributed, with as many as three players being sent off before the start of the second half.

Željezničar entered this derby in the relegation zone, as with 26 points they were in 11th place and clearly under more pressure than their city rival, who intends to play in Europe again and is trying to reach third place.

The recent derby, also played at Grbavica, took place without the presence of visiting fans, but with the dominance of the home players (3:0). Tonight, neither team had a particular dominance, while the fans of both teams were truly great.

Ermin Sivac from Zenica bravely refereed tonight's derby, sticking to his criteria, which resulted in numerous cards. The first was seen as early as the 4th minute when visiting player Slaviša Radović was cautioned.

As early as the 19th minute, Sivac showed a red card to Amer Hiroš. The offensive midfielder of Željezničar was careless and hit Edin Julardžija in the face, for which he had to immediately go to the showers. In the same action, Julardžija received a yellow card for fouling Hiroš by pulling his jersey, and Sulejman Krpić received a public warning for protesting.

Besides the cards, in the first 20 minutes, the situation in the 17th minute, when Kyeremeh missed from five meters after a great run and pass from Mirza Mustafić, is also worth mentioning.

A good action by Sarajevo in the 37th minute ended with a poor shot from Čataković, who sent the ball over the goal. Then Radović tried, but shot directly into Muftić's hands. In the final moments of the first half, Mustafić shot from 17 meters, and Muftić caught the ball on the second attempt.

In stoppage time, the experienced Edin Cocalić was sent off for fouling Kyeremeh, who was going towards the home goal alone. Referee Sivac assessed that Cocalić was the last defender and had prevented a goal-scoring opportunity.

With two players more, Sarajevo finished the first 45 minutes, but started the second half with only one player more because Slaviša Radović was sent off in the meantime for a fight and an attack on Štilić in the tunnel at halftime.

At halftime, Bruno Akrapović brought Amoah, Haris Ovčina, and Vahid Selimović into the game instead of Nedim Mekić, Semir Štilić, and Aleksandar Boljević. For the visitors, Ajdin Hasić came into the game instead of Kyeremeh.

Until the 60th minute, there were no excitements, and then some dangerous chances for Sarajevo. First, Muhamed Buljubašić shot from 20 meters, the ball deflected off a block and went just over the goal. The attacks by the players in burgundy jerseys continued, as they wanted to use their numerical advantage and get a win.

Substitute Renan Oliveira shot from 15 meters in the 71st minute, Muftić was unsure, but still caught the ball. Then Haris Duljević aimed well, but Muftić was sure. Shortly after, Hasić took Sarajevo's 10th corner, Duljević was alone at the near post, but his header was not accurate.

Even Željezničar was not harmless with one player less. In the 78th minute, Amoah found space to shoot from an angle on the right side, shot powerfully, but it went into the near corner and to the well-positioned Dejan Ilijev. On the other side, Duljević tried from a long distance, only to reach Muftić. Sarajevo's defender, Vinko Soldo, shot the deflected ball from 18 meters over Muftić's goal.

In the 83rd minute, a good cross from the right side, Hamza Čataković headed the ball, but it went wide of the goal. It is clear that the visitors from Koševo lacked a bit more precision, as they had good opportunities, but everything went either wide/over the goal or was saved by Muftić without problems. In stoppage time, Sarajevo had a 100% chance. Mehmedović headed the ball, and Muftić saved Željezničar and cleared it into a corner.

Given everything, the home team can certainly be more satisfied with the "zero", as they now have 27 points, but they are still in a very difficult situation, and weakened due to suspensions, they are going to Posušje for the 27th round match.

Sarajevo with 41 points remains in fourth place, two points behind third-placed Velež, and next weekend they will host Borac at Košev, who are getting closer to winning their new title.

It must be stated that this derby was accompanied by unprecedented security, and even fans arriving at the stadium were searched, stripped to prevent them from bringing in any prohibited items or pyrotechnics.