Resilient Kabel Novi Sad Rallies Late to Hold Loznica as Both Sides Seek Traction in Prva Liga Chase

LOZNICA—On a gray October afternoon at Lagator Stadium, two teams in search of stability delivered a contest defined by moments of resolve and frustration—a 1-1 draw that left Loznica and Kabel Novi Sad still wrestling with midseason uncertainty.

The match’s pivotal moments unfolded with the weight of recent weeks hanging over both squads. Loznica, desperate to snap a two-match losing streak and hold onto its fragile position in the top half, surged ahead in the 37th minute, when a penalty was calmly converted by an as-yet unconfirmed scorer. The home crowd, longing for momentum after defeats to Macva and Tekstilac Odžaci, greeted the breakthrough with a sense of collective relief. For a sizeable stretch, it seemed the single goal might be enough to steady the green-and-whites.

But Kabel Novi Sad—a side whose season to date has been marked by stubbornness, if not inspiration—refused to wilt. Managerial adjustments in the second half paid dividends as pressure mounted. In the 79th minute, Milan Kolarević, the 24-year-old attacker whose campaign has been one of unheralded industry, found daylight in the crowded box, stabbing home a low finish that leveled proceedings and silenced the partisan crowd. For Kabel, whose last away victory came almost a month prior at FK Vozdovac, the equalizer symbolized both doggedness and the ongoing quest to convert draws into something more substantial.

The match’s closing stages veered toward the chaotic, punctuated by a red card to a Loznica player in the 87th minute. With the home side reduced to ten men, Kabel sniffed at what would have been a momentous away victory, but lacked the composure in the final third to fashion a winner.

This draw marks yet another in a growing collection for Kabel Novi Sad, whose season has become a story of margins—seven of 13 fixtures have now ended level. The Novi Sad club remains anchored in 15th place, but their defensive discipline and willingness to grind suggest a team drawing closer to discovering a winning formula.

For Loznica, the result is a mixed blessing. Three points would have solidified their standing in the crowded midtable, but with 16 points from 13 matches, they remain in 9th position—a precarious seat just above the league’s relegation fray but well short of the promotion spots. The recent form table offers little comfort: just two wins in five, with heavy-legged losses and late collapses now as familiar as the autumn chill. The attacking spark provided by S. Stojanović and others in September has cooled; now, the challenge is to rekindle belief and consistency as the campaign enters its critical phase.

In broader context, these sides share more than just mid-table mediocrity. Their head-to-head history has rarely produced a clear favorite, with close contests and narrow margins echoing the state of both clubs. Today’s deadlock does little to shift the narrative. If anything, it reaffirms that in Serbia’s Prva Liga, ambition is often checked by parity and the grind of a 30-match campaign.

For Loznica, the search for attacking fluidity must continue—especially with a key player facing a likely suspension after today’s late dismissal. The margin for error shrinks with each passing week, and upcoming encounters with direct rivals will test both their depth and character.

Kabel Novi Sad, meanwhile, can draw confidence from another gritty comeback, but must address the inability to translate resilience into wins. Their string of draws provides a foundation, yet at some stage, risk will need to replace caution if survival is to be comfortably secured.

As the floodlights dimmed on Lagator Stadium, both sets of players trudged off knowing that while nothing was lost, neither was enough gained. In a league defined by knife-edge margins, today’s 1-1 draw was less a statement than a question—one both teams still seem determined, and perhaps destined, to answer in the months ahead.