Larne vs FK Crvena Zvezda

Larne 0-4 FK Crvena Zvezda (HT 0-1)

Goals: Bruno Duarte 26' (pen), 67', V. Kostov 55', M. Cham 85'

Assists: O. Bukari 55', M. Abu Fani 67', A. Katai 85'

Venue: Inver Park, Larne | Attendance: 2,462 | Referee: Rares George Vidican (Romania)

Bruno Duarte scored twice as Red Star Belgrade cruised to a 4-0 first-leg victory over Larne at Inver Park, leaving the Irish Premiership champions with a mountain to climb in next week's return leg in Serbia.

Gary Haveron had described the tie as a "free hit" for his side before kick-off, telling BBC Sport NI that facing a club of Red Star's stature was a chance to showcase what Larne are about. But the gulf in quality was evident from the first half, and the Serbian champions — Champions League league-phase participants as recently as 2024-25 — were ruthless in putting the tie beyond reach.

Red Star took the lead on 26 minutes through a Bruno Duarte penalty. Seol Young-Woo was adjudged to have been fouled in the area following a VAR review, and the Brazilian striker sent Rohan Ferguson the wrong way from the spot — a decision RTE's match report later described as "dubiously awarded."

Larne held firm until the break, but the game turned decisively in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Osman Bukari, introduced at half-time for Loizos Loizou, produced the moment of the match on 55 minutes: the Ghanaian winger beat Sean Graham with a sublime turn before firing a low cross into the centre of the box, where Vasilije Kostov was on hand to lash home from close range. Ferguson had no chance.

Bruno Duarte made it three on 67 minutes with a clinical left-footed finish from the centre of the box after Mohammed Abu Fani's threaded pass, and substitute Muhammed Cham capped the scoring five minutes from time with a dipping strike from distance that arrowed into the top corner — the pick of the four goals, per the BBC's live coverage.

Bukari's introduction at half-time changed the dynamic of the match. Red Star had been comfortable but not devastating in the first half; with Bukari's direct running and trickery on the right flank, they tore through Larne's defensive structure. His assist for Kostov's goal — a sublime turn to beat Graham, then a pinpoint cross — broke the game open and forced Larne to chase the tie.

Bruno Duarte (Crvena Zvezda) — Two goals, one from the penalty spot and one from open play. The Brazilian striker led the line with physicality and sharp finishing, tormenting the Larne centre-backs throughout. Player of the Match.

Osman Bukari (Crvena Zvezda) — Came on at half-time and transformed the game. His assist for Kostov's goal was a moment of genuine quality, and he also rounded Ferguson later in the half but fired into the side netting. A constant menace after the break.

Muhammed Cham (Crvena Zvezda) — Scored the goal of the night with a long-range strike into the top corner, capping a dominant display from the visitors' midfield.

Rohan Ferguson (Larne) — Kept the scoreline respectable with several saves, notably from Kostov's first-half header and Bukari after the winger had rounded him. Could do little about any of the four goals.

The 4-0 scoreline reflected a one-sided contest, but the margin was narrower than the gulf in European experience suggested. Red Star controlled possession and created higher-quality chances without overwhelming Larne's shape until the second half. The key statistical story was the visitors' ruthlessness: four goals from limited but precise entries into the final third. Larne managed one meaningful shot — a curling effort from Tomas Cosgrove that flew high and wide — and never forced Red Star goalkeeper Matheus into a difficult save. xG data, where available, would likely show a game won by clinical finishing rather than sustained dominance.

Larne's Champions League dream is all but over. They will need to overturn a 4-0 deficit in the second leg at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade on Tuesday, 28 July — a task that would rank among the great European comebacks. Realistically, the tie is decided, and Larne's focus will already be shifting toward the Europa League third qualifying round, where they will transfer regardless of the second-leg result.

Red Star, meanwhile, are one step away from the Champions League third qualifying round and will rotate heavily in the return leg with the tie effectively settled.

Red Star's class told in the end. Larne showed organisation and discipline in the first half but were simply outmatched by a side with Champions League pedigree and superior individual quality. The second leg in Belgrade is a formality; the real story for Larne is what comes next in the Europa League.

Next fixtures: Larne vs Crvena Zvezda (second leg) — Tuesday, 28 July 2026, Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade