Red Star Belgrade 0-2 Lille Player Ratings: Nathan Ngoy Sends French Side to UCL Knockouts with Extra-time Winner

LOSC Lille won a tough match against Crvena Zvezda in the Europa League knockout playoffs. Lille secured a 2-0 victory after extra time, with the game lasting 120 minutes at Stadion Rajko Mitić.

Lille made a rapid start as Olivier Giroud scored with a header in the 4th minute, giving the French side a perfect start.

Crvena Zvezda, however, did not give up. They defended well and created chances. The Red Grade Belgrade vs LOSC Lille match was intense and physical, with both teams fighting hard. After 90 minutes, the aggregate score was level, which forced extra time.

In extra time, Lille found the winning goal. In the 99th minute, substitute Nathan Ngoy scored after a quick counter-attack. That goal decided the match.

Lille stayed calm in the final minutes. They controlled the game and protected their lead, earning their place in the next round of the UEFA Europa League.

Key Takeaways

1. Olivier Giroud scored with a header in the 4th minute to give LOSC Lille an early lead.
2. Crvena Zvezda held firm for 90 minutes to force the match into extra time.
3. Nathan Ngoy netted the decisive goal in the 99th minute to seal Lille’s 2-0 win.

LOSC Lille Player Ratings vs Crvena Zvezda

Check out LOSC Lille player ratings from the match against Crvena Zvezda:

Goalkeeper

Berke Özer - 7.5: A very composed performance from the man between the sticks. He made 3 crucial saves, including a couple from inside the box that kept his team's lead intact. We noticed his excellent distribution, with 16 ball recoveries showing how quick he was off his line. He commanded his area well, especially during the nervy final moments of normal time. A reliable presence throughout.

Defenders

Romain Perraud - 7.0: A tireless performance from the left-back. He was a constant outlet on the flank, attempting five crosses and putting in a solid defensive shift with 8 clearances. He was strong in his duels winning most of them. What stood out was his work rate over 106 minutes, contributing at both ends of the pitch without a drop in intensity.

Chancel Mbemba - 7.5: An absolute colossus at the heart of the defense. From our perspective, he was immense, making a staggering 11 clearances and winning 5 of his 7 duels. His reading of the game was second to none, making two key interceptions. He was a calming influence who seemed to be in the right place at the right time, consistently snuffing out danger before it escalated.

Aïssa Mandi - 7.5: Paired Mbemba perfectly and was just as impressive. His distribution from the back was outstanding, with an 81% pass accuracy and an incredible 13 successful long balls. Defensively, he was rock-solid, contributing 9 clearances and winning his tackles cleanly. He played the full 120 minutes with unwavering focus and quality.

Tiago Santos - 7.0: A really energetic display from the right-back for the 95 minutes he was on. He was a constant threat going forward, but what impressed us was his defensive diligence, recovering the ball 9 times. He lost possession a bit too often for our liking, but his positive, aggressive approach gave his team a valuable outlet on the right.

Midfielders

Benjamin André - 8.5: The highest-rated player on the pitch and our man of the match. The captain was simply everywhere. He provided the assist for the opening goal, but his defensive work was monumental. He won 12 duels, made 9 successful aerial challenges, and chipped in with 11 clearances. He drove his team forward for the full 120 minutes, a true leader's performance.

Ayyoub Bouaddi - 6.5: The youngster showed great heart to play the full 120 minutes in a high-pressure midfield battle. He kept the ball ticking over with an 87% pass accuracy and recovered the ball 7 times. However, he did get a yellow card and was dribbled past on three occasions, showing there's still room for development. A gritty, if imperfect, showing.

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson - 6.5: A bit of a frustrating night for the Icelandic international. He showed flashes of his quality, creating one big chance, but he also lost possession 15 times which stalled some attacks. He worked hard and won a decent number of duels before being substituted after 95 minutes.

Matías Fernández-Pardo - 6.5: Had four shots and created two chances, so he was involved in the final third. However, he struggled to impose himself on the game, winning only 3 of his 14 duels. He played the full match but couldn't quite find the killer touch to break the game open himself.

Gaëtan Perrin - 6.0: He looked lively and got two shots on target, forcing the keeper into action. The big issue was the big chance he missed, which could have put the game to bed much earlier. He was a bit loose in possession before he was substituted after 71 minutes.

Forwards

Olivier Giroud - 8.0: Age is just a number. Giroud led the line magnificently for 120 minutes, scoring the crucial opening goal with a classic header. He was an absolute nightmare for the opposition defenders, winning a remarkable 12 of his 19 aerial duels. His hold-up play was essential in bringing teammates into the game. A vintage performance.

Substitutes

Félix Correia - 7.0: Came on and changed the game. His pace and directness on the counter-attack led to the second goal, providing the crucial assist for Ngoy. A fantastic, impactful substitution.

Nathan Ngoy - 7.5: The hero of extra time. He came on late and showed incredible composure to score the goal that sealed the win. A dream impact from the bench.

Manager

B. Génésio - 7.5: His game management was spot on. He set his team up to be resilient, and his substitutions in extra time were inspired, directly leading to the winning goal. He navigated a very tricky away tie with tactical intelligence and deserves huge credit.

Red Star Belgrade Player Ratings vs LOSC Lille

Here are Red Star Belgrade player ratings from the UEL game:

Goalkeeper

Matheus - 8.0: Despite conceding two goals, he was arguably Crvena Zvezda's best player. He made 6 crucial saves, including 4 from shots inside the box, to keep his team in the contest for so long. His high claims were confident, and he was a commanding presence. He can hold his head high after that performance.

Defenders

Rodrigão - 7.0: A warrior-like performance at the back for the 104 minutes he played. He made a team-high 11 clearances and was dominant in his duels, winning 10 of 18. He was a key reason Lille found it so hard to create clear-cut chances from open play. A very solid outing.

Strahinja Erakovic - 7.5: What a performance. He was everywhere, making 11 clearances, 10 duels won, and maintaining a 91% pass accuracy over 120 minutes. He was aggressive, intelligent, and barely put a foot wrong all night. A truly top-class defensive display, despite being on the losing side.

Franklin Tebo - 5.5: A night to forget for the defender. He struggled with the pace and physicality of Lille's attack, picked up an early yellow card, and was ultimately substituted at half-time. It just wasn't his game.

Young-woo Seol - 7.0: A bright spot for the home side. He was excellent defensively, winning all three of his tackles, and looked composed on the ball. He tried to get forward and support the attack, showing great energy over the full 120 minutes. A commendable display.

Midfielders

Tomás Händel - 6.0: He was neat and tidy in possession with a 90% pass accuracy but failed to provide a creative spark. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and was substituted after 71 minutes. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Nair Tiknizyan - 6.5: Worked incredibly hard down the left flank for 106 minutes. He made 4 tackles and was defensively responsible, but his final product in attack was often lacking. He lost possession 22 times, which hampered his team's rhythm going forward.

Rade Krunic - 7.0: The captain led by example with a combative midfield display. He read the game brilliantly, making 4 interceptions, and won the majority of his duels. He tried to drive his team on but was fighting a losing battle against Lille's dominant midfield.

Vasilije Kostov - 6.5: A mixed performance. He showed some nice touches and attempted a few dribbles, but he was also wasteful in possession at times. He got into some good positions but couldn't quite make the difference before being substituted in extra time.

Forwards

J. Enem - 5.5: Completely anonymous in the first half. He managed just 19 touches and failed to make any impact on the game before being rightly hooked at the interval. A very disappointing display.

Bruno Duarte - 6.0: He worked tirelessly as the lone striker for 120 minutes but was often isolated and frustrated. He lost possession an alarming 26 times and his shooting was wayward. You can't fault his effort, but the quality just wasn't there on the night.

Substitutes

Marko Arnautovic - 6.0: Brought on at half-time to add a physical presence, but he struggled to get into the game. He was caught offside too often and while he had a couple of headed chances, he couldn't find the back of the net.

Milos Veljkovic - 6.0: Came on at half-time and helped shore up the defence after Tebo's difficult first half. A steadying presence.

Timi Max Elsnik - 5.5: Entered the fray but failed to make any significant impact on proceedings.

Manager

D. Stankovic - 6.0: He reacted at half-time by making two changes, but his side still lacked the cutting edge to break down a resolute Lille defence. His team fought hard, but they were ultimately out-thought and out-maneuvered, especially in extra time.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Benjamin André.

Worst Performer

J. Enem was unable to influence the play.