Rueters
Thursday, October 26, 2000; 4:45 PM

BELGRADE, Oct 26 – Red Star Belgrade's emerging striker Goran Drulic struck midway through the second half to give the Yugoslav champions a 1-0 first leg win over Celta Vigo in their UEFA Cup second round first leg match on Thursday.

The opening half was a tight affair as both teams applied a cautious approch and rarely came forward.

Cheered on by a passionate 55,000-strong crowd, Red Star turned on the pressure after the break and pinned the visitors back into their own half.

Drulic broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when he slid the ball under the advancing keeper after a defence-splitting pass by skipper Goran Bunjevcevic.

The home side came close to adding a second 10 minutes later when Mihailo Pjanovic's close range effort was deflected for a corner.

Barely 60 seconds later, Red Star keeper Aleksandar Kocic kept his side in front with a superb save after a diving header by Yago Alonso.

The visitors dominated the final 15 minutes but to no great effect as they failed to penetrate a well-organised Red Star defence.