RED STAR BELGRADE LIFTED THE DOUBLE CROWN IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WEDNESDAY BY DEFEATING OFK BELGRADE 4:2 IN THE NATIONAL CUP FINAL, DPA REPORTED. RED STAR, COACHED BY FORMER ITALIAN GOALKEEPER WALTER ZENGA, TRAILED BY TWO UNTIL THE 70TH MINUTE, BUT EQUALIZED ON QUICK GOALS BY NIKOLA ZIGIC AND MILAN PUROVIC TO SECURE OVERTIME. ZIGIC AND DUSAN BASTA SCORED IN THE 100TH AND 115TH TO PUT THE UNDERDOG RIVALS. BOTH TEAMS ENDED THE MATCH WITH 10 PLAYERS, AFTER ONE FROM THE EACH SIDE WAS RED CARDED. ZIGIC, THE TOWERING, 2.02-METRES TALL STRIKER, WAS THE DOMINANT PLAYER ON THE PITCH. HE MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST MATCH IN BELGRADE. HE IS TARGETED BY SEVERAL TOP EUROPEAN CLUBS, WITH ARSENAL AND HAMBURGER REPORTEDLY BEING THE MOST LIKELY CHOICES. RED STAR LIFTED THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EARLIER, NINE POINTS CLEAR OF PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS, ARCHRIVALS PARTIZAN BELGRADE.
