FK Čukarički 2-2 Mačva Šabac — a night of twisting momentum at Stadion na Banovom brdu ended with the points shared, as Čukarički surrendered a two-goal cushion and Mačva Šabac completed a stirring comeback in the Serbian Mozzart Bet Superliga.

Two-goal lead slips away in Belgrade

Čukarički looked in complete control for the opening hour. Playing in front of their own supporters on the wooded slopes of Banovo Brdo, the hosts pressed high, moved the ball quickly through the half-spaces and took a deserved lead before the interval. When the second goal arrived early in the second period, the game appeared settled.

Mačva Šabac had other ideas. The visitors, traditionally one of the more stubborn sides in the Serbian top flight, reorganised after the hour mark, pushed their full-backs higher and began winning second balls in midfield. The pressure told with a goal that halved the deficit, and a dramatic late equaliser silenced the home crowd and sent the travelling supporters into raptures.

Key moments

• Opening goal: Čukarički broke the deadlock with a well-worked move down the right, finished calmly at the near post after a low cross into the box.
• Double advantage: Early in the second half, the hosts doubled the lead from a set-piece situation, the ball bundled home after a scramble inside the six-yard area.
• Lifeline: Mačva responded by reducing the arrears with a header from a corner, giving the visitors belief that the game was still alive.
• Late drama: With the clock running down, Mačva struck again, converting a quick counter-attack to level the score at 2-2 and stun the home bench.
• Late chances: Both sides had one final opportunity in stoppage time, with Čukarički forcing a save and Mačva wasting a promising break.

Tactical story

Čukarički's shape was built around controlling possession and squeezing the opposition into their own half. For an hour it worked perfectly: the hosts won the ball back quickly and created overloads on the flanks. The problem came after the second goal, when the tempo dropped and the midfield line retreated, allowing Mačva to play through the middle rather than around it.

Mačva's manager made the decisive adjustment, switching to a more direct approach and targeting the space behind Čukarički's advanced full-backs. That change turned a one-sided contest into an open, end-to-end affair, and the visitors' willingness to commit bodies forward ultimately earned them a point that few expected at half-time.

Standout performers

Čukarički's attacking midfielder was the best player on the pitch for the first hour, dictating rhythm and creating both goalscoring chances that led to the lead. Mačva's centre-forward, largely anonymous before the break, grew into the game and was central to the comeback, winning aerial duels and holding the ball up to bring teammates into play.

Both goalkeepers made important interventions — the Čukarički keeper with a sharp low save to keep the score at 2-1, and his opposite number with a stoppage-time block that preserved the draw.

What it means for the table

For Čukarički, this is a result that will sting. Dropping points from a winning position at home is exactly the kind of slip that damages a push for the upper half of the Mozzart Bet Superliga standings and European qualification places. The performance for 60 minutes was convincing, but the closing half-hour exposed familiar problems in game management.

For Mačva Šabac, the point is far more valuable psychologically than numerically. Coming from two goals down away from home against a stronger opponent builds belief and offers a template for how the side can compete in the tougher away fixtures of the season. A point on the road, plus a performance full of character, will be warmly received back in Šabac.