RK Partizan - Metaloplastika 20:20 (superliga, round 8)

Referees fought hard for this draw, so much that 4 minutes before the end we were leading to 20:16 and then came the twist of the storyline.

The atmosphere could have been fantastic at the Banjica sports hall with 1300 spectators.

(photo: Facebook/Partizan is life)

Update: Grave Diggers making a fantastic atmosphere

Earlier this week Grave Diggers made an appeal to all Partizan fans, calling them to come as many fans to this match as possible. The handball team - just like almost all other departments of Partizan - has got very serious financial problems. The income they got from the entrance tickets literally meant survival for them.

This match was broadcasted live by RTS 2. Dear fans, miracles do happen.

The problem was that the only available link was more dead than the mummy of Tutankhamon. The only option left was the usual ’prayingwhilesittingneartheinternetconnection" for ’thesoonestpossiblevictory’.

In short: we were leading for the whole first half. At the very beginning Metaloplastika scored the first goal, then they could only try to equalize. We finished it with 9:9.
For the second half the guest team picked themselves together. They took the lead, though they couldn’t keep it for too long, the difference was always only 1 goal. Then in the 41st minute Radojković equalized (13:13), then we took back the lead with Đuričić’s goal (14:13). From this point on we didn’t let control out of our hands. We were always leading with 2, 3, sometimes even 4 goals (19:15).
Then came the 56th minute. The standing was 20:16 for us, when referees decided that their time has come. They sent off two Partizan-players immediately, Metaloplastika thanked the chance and equalized for the end (20:20).
The hero of the day was Igor Mršulja with 7 goals. He is followed by Andrija Đuričić (3). Mihajlo Radojković, Lazar Kukić, Aleksa Maksić and Ivan Popović all scored 2-2 goals, Nemanja Živković and Matija Pižurica added 1-1 scores to the result.

Update: end of the game - high fives and celebrating together

Igor Mršulja in a "sandwich"-position, but he was still unstoppable

Goalkeeper Tomić was in shape

Grave Diggers

Ivan "Parni valjak" Popović

Nemanja Živković

(photos: srls.rs)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 13 points
2. Sloga 13 points
3. Metaloplastika 12 points
4. Partizan 11 points
5. Požarevac 7 points
6. Morava 7 points
7. Jugović 7 points
8. Rudar Kostolac 6 points
9. Radnički 3 points
10. Železničar 1 point