 Damien Richardson's side could not break down their opponents |
Denis Behan's own goal gave Crvena Zvezda a decisive edge over Cork ahead of the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round game. The visitors, who won the European Cup in 1991, dominated possession but struggled to break down Cork until a 36th-minute corner.
Marko Perovic's delivery was headed on by Bosko Jankovic and deflected in off Behan's knee.
Dan Murray went close to levelling with a header but hit the woodwork instead.
Behan tried to make amends for his indiscretion at the other end by latching on to the rebound with an overhead kick, but hooked his effort wide.
In the second half Behan again had a sight of goal, but like Roy O'Donovan before him, failed to find the target.
The Serbians will fancy their chances of at least holding on to their advantage in the return leg.
But despite the defeat it was a memorable night for Cork's 31-year-old midfielder Colin O'Brien, who set a new club record of 20 European ties for the domestic league champions, breaking the previous best held by all-time top scorer John Caulfield and club captain Declan Daly.
Cork: Devine, Cillian Lordan (Brian O'Callaghan 84), Bennett, Murray, Horgan, O'Donovan, O'Brien, Softic, Woods, Fenn, Behan (McCarthy 84).
Subs Not Used: O'Flynn, Sullivan, Cathal Lordan, Lally, McNulty.
Booked: Murray.
Crvena Zvezda: Randjelovic, Pantic (Djokic 68), Bisevac, Joksimovic, Perovic, Jankovic (Milijas 60), Milovanovic, Kovacevic, Basta, Georgiev, Zigic (Purovic 90).
Subs Not Used: Radivojevic, Andelkovic, Tutoric, Trajkovic.
Booked: Zigic, Georgiev.
Goals: Behan 36 og.
Att: 5,500
Ref: Tomasz Mikulski (Poland).
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