Tomorrow at 5 pm starts the match between FK Partizan and Rad from Belgrade's Banjica district. Pace has been a bit sped up for the team, but after Sunday's game they will have an entire week of rest (yes, next week is a week without championship round).
Tomorrow's match will be played with no audience. Rad got suspended during last season's play-off, while playing with Metalac for staying in SuperLiga. That suspension will take effect now. Marko Nikolić isn't much happy that they have to play on the Banjica field without the Grave Diggers, but he doesn't let his dauntless attitude fade away.
- Our fans will not be there at the match, but our goal is still victory. Rad is a very strongly motivated team, they are a serious opponent. Season has just started, lots of challenges are waiting for us, the team of Rad will be the first and most important of them.
The game will be broadcasted live by ArenaSport 1.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Epic Eddy Grant
Did you know that Eddy Grant is a great Partizan-fan?
No?
Well, now you know it.
Don't ever try to come up with the excuse that you don't know who Eddy Grant is. You go and ask Google RIGHT NOW, as well as Youtube, start to dance and spread the word (and music) among the neighbourhood.
In July 2013 Eddy Grant was in Belgrade and he got an invitation to a TV talkshow. The show's host, a certain Ivan Ivanović makes no secret about how much a CZ-fan he is. At the end he wanted to give a Zvezda-jersey as a gift to the famous foreign guest.
What came after, became history.
Eddy Grant is so epic, that now you listen to one of his greatest tracks.
He knows very well what's what.
No?
Well, now you know it.
Don't ever try to come up with the excuse that you don't know who Eddy Grant is. You go and ask Google RIGHT NOW, as well as Youtube, start to dance and spread the word (and music) among the neighbourhood.
In July 2013 Eddy Grant was in Belgrade and he got an invitation to a TV talkshow. The show's host, a certain Ivan Ivanović makes no secret about how much a CZ-fan he is. At the end he wanted to give a Zvezda-jersey as a gift to the famous foreign guest.
What came after, became history.
Eddy Grant is so epic, that now you listen to one of his greatest tracks.
He knows very well what's what.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Season preparations at the basketball team
We shouldn't forget about the basketball team (while celebrating the footballers' great Europa League victory). The boys are enthusiastically training and preparing.
There will be preparational matches, the team will also take part at a memorial competition in Bosna, Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as in Montpellier, France at the cup organized by Tony Parker.
Factually:
4th Sept.: Partizan NIS - Kožuv
6th Sept.: Partizan NIS - Yenisey Krasnoyarsk
9th Sept.: Mega Vizura - Partizan NIS
13th-14th Sept.: Mirza Delibašić Memorial Tour, Bosna, Bosnia-Herzegovina (teams taking part are Bosna, Partizan NIS, Cibona and Turk Telekom)
19th-21st Sept.: Appart-city-cup, Montpellier, France
26th (or 27th) Sept.: Partizan NIS - EA7 Milano
A note to remember: tomorrow starts the basketball World Championship.
You'll be watching it.
There will be preparational matches, the team will also take part at a memorial competition in Bosna, Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as in Montpellier, France at the cup organized by Tony Parker.
Factually:
4th Sept.: Partizan NIS - Kožuv
6th Sept.: Partizan NIS - Yenisey Krasnoyarsk
9th Sept.: Mega Vizura - Partizan NIS
13th-14th Sept.: Mirza Delibašić Memorial Tour, Bosna, Bosnia-Herzegovina (teams taking part are Bosna, Partizan NIS, Cibona and Turk Telekom)
19th-21st Sept.: Appart-city-cup, Montpellier, France
26th (or 27th) Sept.: Partizan NIS - EA7 Milano
A note to remember: tomorrow starts the basketball World Championship.
You'll be watching it.
After-shocks of last night's match
SOS Kanal uploaded a video with last night's match highlights. This video shows clearly what happened to Škuletić when that fight broke out after Partizan's second goal. Ramos pushed him on the ground, even stamped on Partizan’s striker.
Other than this let me ask a few questions from the gentlemen at the Mount Olympus-sized heights of UEFA up there.
#1.
Škuletić is planned to get a 3-match detention after this theatre, just because the referee rubbed a red card for unknown reason under his nose. What are the facts that explain this seemingly too strict punishment? Also, if he has to miss out 3 matches, what kind of detention will Ramos get?
#2.
Has anyone noticed that Partizan players got no refreshment drinks in the second half, despite the infernal heat?
#3.
What do UEFA want to do after Neftchi fans stoned Partizan's bus breaking its windows? (Not mentioning all their other manifestations.)
#4.
Small, but not negligible fact is that Nfor, who went on rampage last night, was fired from Belgian K. V. Kortrijk in July last year. The Cameroonian player threatened the club's CEO and manager to kill them together with their families. (The reason behind it all is a bit, well, complex, but upon what I could see, Nfor made this whole tantrum because he wanted to sign for Neftchi even then, but the Belgian club didn't make it the way he imagined.) Even the police had to intervene, finally Belgians were glad to get rid of him.
Who allowed this team to Europe?... And most of all, how much was he/she paid for it?...
After all these, yesterday's victory and qualifying is even more precious.
And now, raise your lazy behind and start to sing.
Other than this let me ask a few questions from the gentlemen at the Mount Olympus-sized heights of UEFA up there.
#1.
Škuletić is planned to get a 3-match detention after this theatre, just because the referee rubbed a red card for unknown reason under his nose. What are the facts that explain this seemingly too strict punishment? Also, if he has to miss out 3 matches, what kind of detention will Ramos get?
#2.
Has anyone noticed that Partizan players got no refreshment drinks in the second half, despite the infernal heat?
#3.
What do UEFA want to do after Neftchi fans stoned Partizan's bus breaking its windows? (Not mentioning all their other manifestations.)
#4.
Small, but not negligible fact is that Nfor, who went on rampage last night, was fired from Belgian K. V. Kortrijk in July last year. The Cameroonian player threatened the club's CEO and manager to kill them together with their families. (The reason behind it all is a bit, well, complex, but upon what I could see, Nfor made this whole tantrum because he wanted to sign for Neftchi even then, but the Belgian club didn't make it the way he imagined.) Even the police had to intervene, finally Belgians were glad to get rid of him.
Who allowed this team to Europe?... And most of all, how much was he/she paid for it?...
After all these, yesterday's victory and qualifying is even more precious.
And now, raise your lazy behind and start to sing.
Partizan is in Europa League's Group C
UEFA Europa League draw is over, Partizan got to Group C together with Tottenham Hotspur, Besiktas and Asteras Tripolis.
Here is the entire group stage, as it goes:
Group A
Villarreal (ESP)
Mönchengladbach (GER)
FC Zürich (SUI)
Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Group B
FC Kobenhavn (DEN)
FC Brugge (BEL)
Torino (ITA)
HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Group C
Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Besiktas (TUR)
FK Partizan (SRB)
Asteras Tripolis (GRE)
Group D
Salzburg (AUT)
Celtic Glasgow (SCO)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
FC Astra (ROM)
Group E
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Estoril (POR)
Dinamo Moscow (RUS)
Group F
Internazionale (ITA)
Dinamo Dnipropetrovsk (UKR)
Saint Étienne (FRA)
FC Qarabag (AZE)
Group G
FC Sevilla (ESP)
Standard Liége (BEL)
Feyenoord (NED)
Rijeka (CRO)
Group H
Lille (FRA)
Wolfsburg (GER)
Everton (ENG)
Krasnodar (RUS)
Group I
SSC Napoli (ITA)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Young Boys (SUI)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Group J
Dinamo Kyiv (UKR)
Steaua Bucharest (ROM)
Rio Ave (POR)
Aalborg (DEN)
Group K
Fiorentina (ITA)
PAOK (GRE)
Guingamp (FRA)
Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Group L
Kharkiv (RUS)
Trabzonspor (TUR)
Legia Warsaw (POL)
Lokeren (BEL)
The first two teams of each group qualify themselves to the next round. First matches will be held on 18th September.
Pull your socks up, boys.
Here is the entire group stage, as it goes:
Group A
Villarreal (ESP)
Mönchengladbach (GER)
FC Zürich (SUI)
Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Group B
FC Kobenhavn (DEN)
FC Brugge (BEL)
Torino (ITA)
HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Group C
Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Besiktas (TUR)
FK Partizan (SRB)
Asteras Tripolis (GRE)
Group D
Salzburg (AUT)
Celtic Glasgow (SCO)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
FC Astra (ROM)
Group E
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Estoril (POR)
Dinamo Moscow (RUS)
Group F
Internazionale (ITA)
Dinamo Dnipropetrovsk (UKR)
Saint Étienne (FRA)
FC Qarabag (AZE)
Group G
FC Sevilla (ESP)
Standard Liége (BEL)
Feyenoord (NED)
Rijeka (CRO)
Group H
Lille (FRA)
Wolfsburg (GER)
Everton (ENG)
Krasnodar (RUS)
Group I
SSC Napoli (ITA)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Young Boys (SUI)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Group J
Dinamo Kyiv (UKR)
Steaua Bucharest (ROM)
Rio Ave (POR)
Aalborg (DEN)
Group K
Fiorentina (ITA)
PAOK (GRE)
Guingamp (FRA)
Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Group L
Kharkiv (RUS)
Trabzonspor (TUR)
Legia Warsaw (POL)
Lokeren (BEL)
The first two teams of each group qualify themselves to the next round. First matches will be held on 18th September.
Pull your socks up, boys.
VICTORY!!! Neftchi Baku - FK Partizan 1:2
WE WON!!!
WE MADE IT TO THE EUROPA LEAGUE!!!
WE MADE IT, YESSSSS!!!!
Gosh. Isn't it unbelievable. We won. Partizan made it to the group state of Europa League.
It feels so good to say it out loud.
20 000 Azeri fans were waiting for Partizan in Tofiq Bahramov stadium, all with snapping teeth, thirsty for blood. Partizan boys were wearing their nice, black away jersey. The temperature in the stadium was 37°C, a living hell, even at 9 pm.
(photo: partizan.rs)
Let me mention though, just as a footnote, I have never seen such a horrible football field so far. It was full of humps. During the match sods were flipping around as players were running or tackling. (An epic scene happened at a Partizan-corner, when Živković carefully put back a half-carpet sized sod back that was frizzling up near the corner-flag.) Worse was that at tacklings small earth-balls were flying all over. No, not sod, but soil, splattering all around. (Did those guys in Baku seriously want to qualify to Europe with such a garbage quality field?)
Some time in the 4th minute was the first real chance. Until then they were just trying each other (sometimes literally, sometimes they just kicked each other on the ankle instead of kicking the ball). Then Partizan took a deep breath and attacked, but as Škuletić was running up to Neftchi’s home, he was scythed off by goalkeeper Stamenković. The referee just waved "go ahead", and this "ahead" ended in a counter-attack. At the end of the attack Neftchi’s player passed it to the middle to Abdullayev, the midfielder gave it a hard kick, but Lukač had a HUGE save.
Neftchi again operated with their short, annoying ball passes. They were keeping the ball and kept on making Partizan feel uncomfortable on their half. In the 10th minute it was again about Lukač and his reflexes. Neftchi started an attack from the halfway line, Partizan’s goalkeeper again had a great save.
A minute later Vulićević ran up on the right side, passed it to Škuletić, but the striker tried so long to find his place that finally he was tackled by defenders. In the 12th minute Lazović was kicked hard (and it was just the beginning...), Drinčić’s free kick flew out of the field next to the post.
In the 13th minute Neftchi started again a dangerous attack, then Wobay pushed Branko Ilić at Partizan’s penalty area. The referee didn’t whistle, the Sierra Leone midfielder shot, Lukač saved.
Statue for Lukač at ul. Humska. NOW.
A minute later Grbić’s shot was saved by Stamenković.
There was barely any play in the midfield. If any of the teams got the ball, they immediately attacked. Neftchi players most of the time simply kicked Partizan-players off instead of tackling, like in the 18th minute, after an Azeri corner Branko Ilić fell on the field after being headed by Cardoso. It was so serious that the defender had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. (After some medical attendance he could return.)
Then it was silence until the 24th minute.
Then it was Petar Škuletić time.
It was so much his time that afterwards it was 0:1 for Partizan. He got the ball from Živković, ran up on the left side, lobbed the ball above Stamenković and it fell into the net. 0:1
And he was bold enough to turn to Neftchi-fans who were booing and hissing loud, raised his hand to his ear grinning as if he would say "hey, bros, lemme hear you booing now" (or something like that).
Two minutes later Partizan got another chance, missed by Grbić. The ball left the field near the right goalpost.
Neftchi kept on trying to attack, but Milan Lukač "put up the shutters", no matter how much Azeri players were struggling. In the 29th minute Abdullayev got the ball kicked from the halfway line, passed dangerously into the middle, but the arriving Azeri player just missed it with a step. A minute later again he was dribbling in the penalty area, again passed into the middle, but Yunuszade kicked the ball out of the stadium. In the 32nd minute they tried again, Abdullayev again, but his teammate was again just a step slower than it would have been needed. A minute later Lukač again had a PHENOMENAL save. Wobay shot the ball, Lukač was falling and while (!) falling he saved with a fantastic move. (That was one of the biggest moments of the match.)
At the 35th minute Partizan could finally reach to Neftchi’s home. Škuletić passed to Živković, he shot but missed.
Despite the so many attacks the pace wasn’t much quick, on the contrary, sometimes it was especially slow. Neftchi couldn’t crank it up, as for Partizan, the result was in their favour.
In the 38th minute came that very moment when Flavinho tripped and fell on the ground in the middle of an attack, facing Lukač. I couldn’t see well if he tripped over the ball or a hump, but it doesn’t matter. It was a frantic moment. Right after this Vulićević wanted to run up with the ball, but he was kicked off very hard. The free kick missed the goal, Neftchi immediately started a counter-attack, but it was then the counter-attack of the counter-attack (Partizan got the ball and they didn’t think it over just ran against the Azeri goal).
In the 40th minute it was again this "here and there"-situation (Partizan attacked, Azeri defenders cleaned the area and started a counter-attack, but Lukač was at his place, too). At the very end, in the 45+1st minute there was time even for a foul, Vulićević was kicked brutally by Nfor. The Cameroonian striker didn’t have a too good day, he had a lot of fouls and complained even more. The Austrian referee got slightly fed up with him and showed him the yellow card.
In the second half Ramos kicked off Lazović, still at the beginning. He got a yellow card, but it didn’t take back Neftchi’s will to attack Partizan. Finally in the 58th minute they succeeded. Wobay got the ball inside of Partizan’s penalty area, dribbled around the defenders and kicked the ball into the net by Lukač. 1:1
And then came silence until about the 66th minute. Pace slowed down, it wasn’t too quick anyway. Sometimes both teams seemed to struggle. Then again came an Azeri attack from the halfway line, the striker was running to Partizan’s goal with just one defender behind him, and Lukač made again such a huge save that Average Fan made a circle of candles, stepped in the middle, turned towards Belgrade and bowed to the ground 42 times.
After this Partizan blocked all tryings by Neftchi. As a return gift, Neftchi kicked off Partizan’s players, like e.g. Lazović in the 70th minute or Škuletić in the 73th.
In the 74th minute came a great chance. Again Vulićević passed the ball to the middle. Živković tried to find his way with it, then passed it to Škuletić. The Montenegrin player shot it, but Stamenković grabbed the ball and saved.
A minute later Partizan got a corner, but players were fumbling so long that they missed the chance. One more minute later Lazović missed it.
The next 10 minutes brought three weak Neftchi-chances and a sent-off. The referee got totally fed up with Nfor in the 86th minute after he kicked the x-th Partizan-player off (in this very minute it was about Branko Ilić, but a few minutes earlier he brutally kicked into Škuletić) that he showed the Cameroonian player the red card.
Then in the 92nd minute Petar Škuletić
PETAR FUCKING ŠKULETIĆ
scored and Partizan was leading. 1:2
Hell broke loose.
Within just moments a great fight started on the field. In one moment it was goal and happiness, then the very next you could see only players literally fighting with each other. It seemed, Ramos started it all - all you could see on the screen was Brašanac and Petrović pushing the Paraguayan player, then arrives Stanković like a nuclear bomb, falling on Ramos, and from the background arrives a pissed Saša Ilić shouting angrily. Then Branko Ilić and Vulićević also joined, and Stanković fell on the ground.
Then the referee showed the red card to Škuletić as well as to Caue and Ramos (I admit, these last 2 don't upset me much), but I couldn’t figure out until now why the Montenegrin was sent off. I watched the fighting scene quite a few times, but I didn’t see Škuletić for a moment joining this all-in wrestling. If you know why he got the red card, write it in the comment area. Thanks.
Most important is that with this goal (and with the other) Škuletić shot Partizan into Europa League. They totally deserve celebrating.
The two heroes of the match: Milan Lukač and Petar Škuletić
(photos: partizan.rs)
Match highlights:
Here's the entire match as well.
Facts:
Location: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku
Number of spectators: 20 000
Referee: Robert Schörgenhofer (linesmen: Mattias Winsauer, Roland Brandner, substitute referee: Dominik Ouschan) - AUT
Neftchi Baku: Stamenković - Caue, Yunuszade, Cardoso, Cruz - Abdullayev, Seyidov (Canales, 54.), Wobay (Masimov, 83.), Ramos, Flavinho (Bertucci, 54.) - Nfor
Head coach: Boyukagha Hajiyev
FK Partizan: Lukač - Vulićević, B. Ilić, Stanković, Petrović - A. Živković (Ostojić, 90+5.), Brašanac, Drinčić, Grbić (S. Ilić, 59.) - Škuletić, Lazović (Pantić, 84.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
Goal scorers: Škuletić (24.), Wobay (58.), Škuletić (90+2.)
Yellow card: Nfor (45+1.), Ramos (48.), Vulićević (62.), Wobay (70.)
Red card: Nfor (86.), Ramos (90+3.), Caue (90+4.), Škuletić (90+4.)
***
...and two more news, one of them is sad... Drinčić leaves. To Maccabi Haifa. He just signed to them, after the match. This was his last time wearing Partizan’s jersey.
Shit :’(
(photo: partizan.rs)
The other news is that Stanković will most probably stay in ul. Humska for the autumn season.
UEFA Europa League draw starts tomorrow at noon, stay tuned to see whom we will play against this autumn.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Scandal in Baku
Partizan had an amazing welcome in Baku. Such a welcome you barely ever get in your life.
It was so unique that even the bus window got broken. Not by the warm welcome, but by that stone Neftchi fans threw to the bus that took the players to the stadium to train.
Aren't they cute?...
Thankfully nobody got injured, but compared to all that came next, this broken windows was like the singing of an altar-boys' choir.
The team arrived at Neftchi's stadium, where a bunch of fans were already waiting for them.
Luckily I understand nothing from Azeri language, or else right now I'd be hunting for them one by one with a machine-gun.
It was so unique that even the bus window got broken. Not by the warm welcome, but by that stone Neftchi fans threw to the bus that took the players to the stadium to train.
(photo: mondo.rs)
Aren't they cute?...
Thankfully nobody got injured, but compared to all that came next, this broken windows was like the singing of an altar-boys' choir.
The team arrived at Neftchi's stadium, where a bunch of fans were already waiting for them.
Luckily I understand nothing from Azeri language, or else right now I'd be hunting for them one by one with a machine-gun.
Coming up: Neftchi Baku - FK Partizan UEFA Europa League playoff + transfer news
Tomorrow at 18:00 (at 9 pm local time) plays Partizan in Baku, Azerbaijan against Neftchi.
The team left today in the morning.
Upon news in Baku awaits a living hell for the players, a weather forecast website predicts 36°C (!!!) for the Azeri capital.
What a great fun it will be to train and play in such a deadly heat...
Volkov is still missing from the team, but Fofana will be there.
RTS 1 broadcasts the match live.
It seems, Stanković will stay at ul. Humska despite all transfer rumours and seemingly 100 percent sure news. In the beginning Lazio was rumoured to buy the defender, later it changed to Palermo, but right now it seems so, the Sicilian team does not need Partizan's player, as they bought earlier two other defenders.
Stanković himself couldn't really add much more
- The club received no official proposal from Palermo yet - he said. - Maybe nothing will come out of this. Right now I go with the team to Baku and then we'll see.
Yet Nikola Gulan will most probably leave Belgrade. Mallorca is interested in him. No facts yet, but it very much seems so at the moment Gulan continues his career in Spain.
The team left today in the morning.
Saša Ilić looks a bit crinkled
Andrija Živković definitely looks like having a lack of sleep
Not as if Danko Lazović would show his fit face
Follow the example of Danilo Pantić: read a book
Upon news in Baku awaits a living hell for the players, a weather forecast website predicts 36°C (!!!) for the Azeri capital.
What a great fun it will be to train and play in such a deadly heat...
Volkov is still missing from the team, but Fofana will be there.
RTS 1 broadcasts the match live.
It seems, Stanković will stay at ul. Humska despite all transfer rumours and seemingly 100 percent sure news. In the beginning Lazio was rumoured to buy the defender, later it changed to Palermo, but right now it seems so, the Sicilian team does not need Partizan's player, as they bought earlier two other defenders.
Stanković himself couldn't really add much more
- The club received no official proposal from Palermo yet - he said. - Maybe nothing will come out of this. Right now I go with the team to Baku and then we'll see.
Yet Nikola Gulan will most probably leave Belgrade. Mallorca is interested in him. No facts yet, but it very much seems so at the moment Gulan continues his career in Spain.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Kanjiža Cup
Yesterday was the day of the Kanjiža Cup final. The tournament was won by Pick Szeged, they defeated Vardar Skopje in the final. Partizan played for the 5th place against Nexe, but they couldn't win over the Croat team.
But.
The best young player of the tournament is RK Partizan's 19-year-old right wing, Nemanja Živković. The best shooter of the competition is another Partizan-player, Mihajlo Radojković.
But.
The best young player of the tournament is RK Partizan's 19-year-old right wing, Nemanja Živković. The best shooter of the competition is another Partizan-player, Mihajlo Radojković.
On the left side of the photo standing Nemanja Živković, on the right Mihajlo Radojković with the world's widest grin
(photo: Facebook/Rukometni klub Partizan - zvanicna strana)
Congratulations :)
FK Partizan - Donji Srem 3:0 - Jelen SuperLiga, Round 3
Coach staff and substitute players are coming out to the bench soon before starting.
The match had a strong start, though teams were stuck mostly in the midfield, without being able to get to each other's penalty area. The first mentionable chance came in the 7th minute, though only Petrović's fumbling made it memorable.
Yet the atmosphere was excellent. It wass only the 5th minute, but the southern sector was chanting.
It was around the 11th minute, when Partizan had their first serious shoot. Škuletić got the ball, shook the defender off (like a dog shakes off water) and he shot the ball right into the goalkeeper.
The guests immediately started a counter-attack, but the ball flew out near the goalpost.
It came to my mind, the team should attack such a small team like Donji Srem much more aggressively. This Vojvodina team didn't get scared at all by the famous opponent. Yet they played such a brutal "bunker football" that it was painful even just to watch it.
It would have been good to see a bit more brave and tough beginning, because if it is the same next Thursday in Baku, then the team should better go and switch to rope-dancing, forgetting about any sort of European cup competition. Until Škuletić's chance the players were just buggering around the midfield.
In the 13th minute Partizan defenders broke an attack. Donji Srem's player shot it again on the goal with a defiant move, barely missing it. A minute later Živković shot the ball just a bit too high. A bit later the Vojvodina team built up an attack with a meticulous care
they made it slow like a snail, but our defenders were just watching it
and when one of them finally shot, Lukač had a great luck with being able to save it.
The first Partizan-corner came in the 17th minute, Škuletić headed it just too far. In the 20th minute home defenders again made a mistake. The ball dropped right in front of a Donji Srem player who didn't think it over, just shot. For our luck he missed it.
Both teams could get very rarely to each other's penalty area. After the 20th minute the match's pace got even slower, even though it wasn't too fast even until that point. No attacks, only passing the ball here and there without much ideas. All players of Donji Srem were clogging around their own penalty area.
At this point Average Fan had a bitter sigh... 'where are you now, Saša Ilić?'
The next mentionable event was in the 26th minute, but just Grbić missed again another chance. (It wasn't much dangerous by default, it was a chance one can only miss out.) The midfielder had another try in the 30th minute.
In the 33rd minute Donji Srem got a free kick (after Branko Ilić's fault), the shot dropped on the wall.
Well... yes. That was an event to mention. There wasn't really anything else to mention.
The next 10 minutes Partizan had about 5 missed chances. The ball either flew out near or above the post. To all this, Živković very much seemed to be out of shape. The otherwise very fast midfielder and avid goalscoarer was struggling. He couldn't speed up, he missed passes, he had thick, black healing plasters on his left leg.
If he's not healthy, why must he play?...
And why am I asking rhetorical questions?...
It was almost the end of the first half when Partizan suddenly got a penalty. Škuletić wanted to make a bombing shot, two among Donji Srem defenders drifted themselves in front of the ball. One of them got the ball on his hand. Škuletić stood behind the ball at the penalty point and shot the ball into the lower right corner with a calm move. 1:0
In the second half Saša Marković had a huge shot right after the beginning that the ball flew over the southern tribunes. Then all was silent until about the 51st minute.
Well, no, it wasn't silent, because fans, the re-united southern and western sectors made a huge atmosphere.
Highlights:
Facts:
Location: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 5000
Referee: Petar Piper (linesmen: Nenad Kurčubić, Marko Dimitrijević, substitute referee: Bojan Stanojević, goal referees: Bojan Nikolić, Nenad Santrač)
FK Partizan: Lukač - Petrović, B. Ilić, Stanković, Vulićević - Brašanac, Grbić (Lazović, 62.), A. Živković, Marković - Marinković (S. Ilić, 54.), Škuletić (Pantić, 81.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
Donji Srem: Milinović - Punoševac (Marćeta, 68.), Lakić Pešić, Prjević, Lakičević - Grujičić, Zec - Stanislavljević (Obubi, 58.), Bukorac, Spalević (Crnomarković, 79.) - Beljić
Head coach: Nenad Vanić
Goal scorers: Škuletić (45. - penalty), Lazović (67.), Marković (75.)
Yellow card: B. Ilić (31.), then Obubi (76.)
Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 9p
2. Crvena Zvezda 9p
3. Novi Pazar 7p
4. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 7p
5. Rad 6p
6. Vojvodina 6p
7. Čukarički 5p
8. OFK Beograd 4p
9. Jagodina 4p
10. Borac 4p
11. Donji Srem 3p
12. Mladost 1p
13. Napreadak 1p
14. Radnički 1923 1p
15. Radnički Niš 0p
16. FK Voždovac 0p
(photo by pafteq)
The match had a strong start, though teams were stuck mostly in the midfield, without being able to get to each other's penalty area. The first mentionable chance came in the 7th minute, though only Petrović's fumbling made it memorable.
Yet the atmosphere was excellent. It wass only the 5th minute, but the southern sector was chanting.
It was around the 11th minute, when Partizan had their first serious shoot. Škuletić got the ball, shook the defender off (like a dog shakes off water) and he shot the ball right into the goalkeeper.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The guests immediately started a counter-attack, but the ball flew out near the goalpost.
It came to my mind, the team should attack such a small team like Donji Srem much more aggressively. This Vojvodina team didn't get scared at all by the famous opponent. Yet they played such a brutal "bunker football" that it was painful even just to watch it.
It would have been good to see a bit more brave and tough beginning, because if it is the same next Thursday in Baku, then the team should better go and switch to rope-dancing, forgetting about any sort of European cup competition. Until Škuletić's chance the players were just buggering around the midfield.
Zvonko Varga was sitting on the bench tonight, Marko Nikolić appeared only once in the screen as he was standing at the locker room gate near the doorpost
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
In the 13th minute Partizan defenders broke an attack. Donji Srem's player shot it again on the goal with a defiant move, barely missing it. A minute later Živković shot the ball just a bit too high. A bit later the Vojvodina team built up an attack with a meticulous care
they made it slow like a snail, but our defenders were just watching it
and when one of them finally shot, Lukač had a great luck with being able to save it.
Sods were flying here and there
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The first Partizan-corner came in the 17th minute, Škuletić headed it just too far. In the 20th minute home defenders again made a mistake. The ball dropped right in front of a Donji Srem player who didn't think it over, just shot. For our luck he missed it.
Both teams could get very rarely to each other's penalty area. After the 20th minute the match's pace got even slower, even though it wasn't too fast even until that point. No attacks, only passing the ball here and there without much ideas. All players of Donji Srem were clogging around their own penalty area.
At this point Average Fan had a bitter sigh... 'where are you now, Saša Ilić?'
The next mentionable event was in the 26th minute, but just Grbić missed again another chance. (It wasn't much dangerous by default, it was a chance one can only miss out.) The midfielder had another try in the 30th minute.
In the 33rd minute Donji Srem got a free kick (after Branko Ilić's fault), the shot dropped on the wall.
Well... yes. That was an event to mention. There wasn't really anything else to mention.
The next 10 minutes Partizan had about 5 missed chances. The ball either flew out near or above the post. To all this, Živković very much seemed to be out of shape. The otherwise very fast midfielder and avid goalscoarer was struggling. He couldn't speed up, he missed passes, he had thick, black healing plasters on his left leg.
If he's not healthy, why must he play?...
And why am I asking rhetorical questions?...
It was almost the end of the first half when Partizan suddenly got a penalty. Škuletić wanted to make a bombing shot, two among Donji Srem defenders drifted themselves in front of the ball. One of them got the ball on his hand. Škuletić stood behind the ball at the penalty point and shot the ball into the lower right corner with a calm move. 1:0
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
In the second half Saša Marković had a huge shot right after the beginning that the ball flew over the southern tribunes. Then all was silent until about the 51st minute.
Well, no, it wasn't silent, because fans, the re-united southern and western sectors made a huge atmosphere.
(photo: pafteq)
(photo: juznifront.com)
In the 51st minute Lukač had a great save after another nerve-racking mistake of the defense line. Partizan immediately made a counter-attack, Grbić missed the ball with just only one step...
Here came a period when you had the impression, Partizan consists of only Grbić, Vulićević and sometimes Škuletić (the defender ran up many times with the ball and passed them all in the middle - these all ended either as a missed chance or the Donji Srem defense line headed them out). No idea where other team members had been. Marinković was invisible, Živković was struggling, the others faded into the grey mass.
Then in the 54th minute finally arrived Saša Ilić. From then on it was very interesting to see attacks getting shapes, there were even ideas behind them, they even looked to be organized...
Guests got stuck even more around their penalty area. Brašanac tried, then Škuletić twice...
...and then Danko Lazović appeared at the sideline, ready to battle, in the 62nd minute. He substituted Petar Grbić and finally the Lazović-Saša Ilić axis started to roll. It rolled so much that in the 67th minute it was 2:0 for Partizan. The goal was scored by no one else than Danko Lazović. Vulićević passed the ball to Živković on the right. The midfielder passed it to Škuletić, the striker headed it, just into the goalkeeper. The ball dropped in front of Lazović and the Montenegrian player shot it into the net. 2:0
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Another 10 minutes came with missed Partizan-chances. Donji Srem sometimes made a counter-attack, but these were all insignificant. In the 71st minute Škuletić again missed a chance, then a minute later Vulićević made a huge sprint (fans were cheering for him loud) and got the ball with a great tackle near the penalty area of the guests. After this he dribbled himself through the defense up to the five-meter line, but missed it. Branko Ilić got the ball, but his shot also avoided the goal.
In the 75th minute Brašanac headed the ball too high, and a minute later it was 3:0. Saša Ilić had a bombing shot from distance. Donji Srem goalkeeper saved it and the ball dropped in front of the other Saša, namely Marković. The midfielder didn't require any special encouraging, he shot and the ball fell right into the net. 3:0
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The rest of the match didn't have too many surprises left. In the 81th minute a Partizan-player's solo (maybe Saša Ilić? I didn't see it clearly) Petrović got the ball. He passed to Živković, but the chance was missed. A minute later Lazović missed a similarly great chance.
Highlights:
Facts:
Location: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 5000
Referee: Petar Piper (linesmen: Nenad Kurčubić, Marko Dimitrijević, substitute referee: Bojan Stanojević, goal referees: Bojan Nikolić, Nenad Santrač)
FK Partizan: Lukač - Petrović, B. Ilić, Stanković, Vulićević - Brašanac, Grbić (Lazović, 62.), A. Živković, Marković - Marinković (S. Ilić, 54.), Škuletić (Pantić, 81.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
Donji Srem: Milinović - Punoševac (Marćeta, 68.), Lakić Pešić, Prjević, Lakičević - Grujičić, Zec - Stanislavljević (Obubi, 58.), Bukorac, Spalević (Crnomarković, 79.) - Beljić
Head coach: Nenad Vanić
Goal scorers: Škuletić (45. - penalty), Lazović (67.), Marković (75.)
Yellow card: B. Ilić (31.), then Obubi (76.)
Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 9p
2. Crvena Zvezda 9p
3. Novi Pazar 7p
4. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 7p
5. Rad 6p
6. Vojvodina 6p
7. Čukarički 5p
8. OFK Beograd 4p
9. Jagodina 4p
10. Borac 4p
11. Donji Srem 3p
12. Mladost 1p
13. Napreadak 1p
14. Radnički 1923 1p
15. Radnički Niš 0p
16. FK Voždovac 0p
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Drinčić not sold out + Coming up: FK Partizan - Donji Srem - Jelen Superliga Round 3
I love it when some people make a butthole out of their mouths. What does that sinner deserve who spread the news so heavily that even bigger newssites published it?
Marko Nikolić gave an angry (and negative) answer to all questions regarding Nikola Drinčić's transfer to Israel. He said, an unnamed Israel journalist spread the rumour on Twitter, the news was picked by the media and published as fact. The head coach categorically stated Drinčić is still the player of FK Partizan.
Amen.
About tomorrow's match: it starts at 19:00 at ul. Humska 1. Marko Nikolić is not allowed on the bench, Zvonko Varga will be in charge this time. Of course everyone works hard to keep the winning series, yet the head coach reminded, Donji Srem have dangerous strikers.
Volkov is still injured, Živković and Pantić are also not battle-ready.
Match will be broadcasted live by ArenaSport 5.
Marko Nikolić gave an angry (and negative) answer to all questions regarding Nikola Drinčić's transfer to Israel. He said, an unnamed Israel journalist spread the rumour on Twitter, the news was picked by the media and published as fact. The head coach categorically stated Drinčić is still the player of FK Partizan.
Amen.
About tomorrow's match: it starts at 19:00 at ul. Humska 1. Marko Nikolić is not allowed on the bench, Zvonko Varga will be in charge this time. Of course everyone works hard to keep the winning series, yet the head coach reminded, Donji Srem have dangerous strikers.
Volkov is still injured, Živković and Pantić are also not battle-ready.
Match will be broadcasted live by ArenaSport 5.
Nikola Drinčić - sold out
What the hell can one say to it?
Maybe something like "may his hand dry off to the man who brought Partizan to this miserable situation that they must sell even Drinčić"? Or "what will happen now to the team, how will the midfield operate now that the bravehearted, unknockoutable, wear-and-tear-proof, always reliable, bomb shooter genious Nikola Drinčić will not play with us anymore"?
That's what you can say:
Drinčić is bought by Maccabi Haifa, the Montenegrin signed for two years. Nobody mentioned any price.
All right, everyone. Now we all go to Đurić. And this time he will get nitric acid on his head instead of icy water (we may add some icecubes on request though) if he does not say anything on where that horrendous amount of euros are gone that came in from selling players, what that money was spent on and how on all Ebola-infected monkey sausages is it possible that the club's deficit still doesn't want to reduce.
Who's with me?
Maybe something like "may his hand dry off to the man who brought Partizan to this miserable situation that they must sell even Drinčić"? Or "what will happen now to the team, how will the midfield operate now that the bravehearted, unknockoutable, wear-and-tear-proof, always reliable, bomb shooter genious Nikola Drinčić will not play with us anymore"?
That's what you can say:
Drinčić is bought by Maccabi Haifa, the Montenegrin signed for two years. Nobody mentioned any price.
All right, everyone. Now we all go to Đurić. And this time he will get nitric acid on his head instead of icy water (we may add some icecubes on request though) if he does not say anything on where that horrendous amount of euros are gone that came in from selling players, what that money was spent on and how on all Ebola-infected monkey sausages is it possible that the club's deficit still doesn't want to reduce.
Who's with me?
Friday, August 22, 2014
Partizan's former goalkeeper accepted the challenge
Partizan's former goalkeeper, Vladimir Stojković accepted the challenge and took part in Ice Bucket Challenge, that has been circulating all over the internet, getting more and more popular.
If someone missed it out: a lot of celebrities and widely known people take the challenge to get poured with a bucket of water full of ice cubes. The aim of this Challenge is to draw attention to ALS, an illness with muscular atrophy as well as to help collect money on the bank account of ALS Foundation. (Stephen Hawking is one of the most well-known among those who suffer from ALS.) The person poured with icy water passes the challenge to another known person.
Stojković was challenged by Serbian national team member Filip Đorđević. He passed the challenge to Partizan's president Dragan Đurić as well as Kristijan Golubović, a multi-convicted, presently still (or again?) imprisoned gangster, who presents himself as a great Partizan-fan.
Click here for the video.
If someone missed it out: a lot of celebrities and widely known people take the challenge to get poured with a bucket of water full of ice cubes. The aim of this Challenge is to draw attention to ALS, an illness with muscular atrophy as well as to help collect money on the bank account of ALS Foundation. (Stephen Hawking is one of the most well-known among those who suffer from ALS.) The person poured with icy water passes the challenge to another known person.
Stojković was challenged by Serbian national team member Filip Đorđević. He passed the challenge to Partizan's president Dragan Đurić as well as Kristijan Golubović, a multi-convicted, presently still (or again?) imprisoned gangster, who presents himself as a great Partizan-fan.
Click here for the video.
News from the basketball and football departments
Nikola Milutinov is in hospital. Nothing serious happened, KK Partizan's center had to undergo a tonsillectomy at the Belgrade City Clinics. To make all fans sure he is in the best hands, the operation was performed by Prof. Dr. Rade Kosanović. The anaesthetist was Dr. Dragan Marinković - both medicals are great fans of Partizan.
Milutinov must stay in hospital for the weekend, he can go home on Monday. He has to rest at least for two more weeks.
Marko Nikolić was punished by the Serbian Football Association for that red card he got at the match against Radnički last week. The trainer is not allowed on the bench at the upcoming match against Donji Srem (this Sunday at 19:00), and he has to pay a 200 000-dinar-fee as well.
The reason behind it all is that he got the red card because he "got into conflict" with the opponent players. Nikolić himself said only that he wanted to prevent a major incident.
I got this forbiddance that he is not allowed on the bench. But for God's sake, this 200 000-dinar fee is way too much.
Milutinov must stay in hospital for the weekend, he can go home on Monday. He has to rest at least for two more weeks.
***
Marko Nikolić was punished by the Serbian Football Association for that red card he got at the match against Radnički last week. The trainer is not allowed on the bench at the upcoming match against Donji Srem (this Sunday at 19:00), and he has to pay a 200 000-dinar-fee as well.
The reason behind it all is that he got the red card because he "got into conflict" with the opponent players. Nikolić himself said only that he wanted to prevent a major incident.
I got this forbiddance that he is not allowed on the bench. But for God's sake, this 200 000-dinar fee is way too much.
FK Partizan - Neftchi Baku 3:2 (UEFA Europa League qualifying play-off)
That's it. I'm dead.
No joke.
This post is being written by a decaying corpse, that still makes a twitch here and there while typing.
Geez, wasn't it a tough match.
At first nothing special seems to be there. 3:2, what a great evening. Lots of goals, surely it was superb, the team won, so what's this nervous tic?
Well, nothing special, indeed, just the fact that the two Azeri goals were shot within the first 20 minutes. The first came right in the 11th minute. As for the 3 Partizan goals, only one (1) of them was actually scored by a Partizan-player.
You see it now, right?
(Defibrillator does not help anymore.)
Also the Turkish referee was spreading yellow cards as much as if he was given extra payment for it. And if one of the Latin-American players demonstrated his acting abilities, he showed immediately the yellow card - to the Partizan-player.
So, players came out to the field and started to run here and there half-mad. (I mean "half-mad" that both teams seemed to be very nervous.) Right in the 2nd minute one of those latino players laid down in the grass (who knows, maybe he was sleepy...), the referee gave a free kick to the guests. And the free kick landed in Partizan's net. And if the linesman hadn't been waving for offside, even now it would have been 0:1.
In the 4th minute a huge Partizan-chance was missed. (There will be more of this kind...) Vulićević passed the ball to the middle, it jumped from the goalkeeper right in front of Ninković. The midfielder shot, but one of the defenders ran, jumped, crawled, slid and saved the ball about half millimeter before the goal line. The ball rolled out through the sideline. Throw-in for Partizan, the ball was dropped to Lazović, but his shot flew out close to the goalpost.
It was still within the first 5 minutes... Believe me, the entire match was like this, this crazy, this nervous, when after a while you give up screaming, you just gnash.
In the 6th minute the defense line saved a dangerous Neftchi-attack. Corner. A minute later Vulićević was kicked to the ground hard. The free kick flew out to the stadium taking a solar orbit, the ball was brought back from Dragan Mance street.
Azeri players, mostly those Brazilians, well, God knows what sort of stuff they're fueled with, they ran a lot and too fast, they jumped on every possible ball, kick and pass and once they got the ball, they gave it to each other with these annoying, short passes, while Partizan-players rushed after them desperately.
Don't take me wrong, none of these Brazilians were anything special. It's fact they were fast, but it got proven as well that they collapse and fade into the average as soon as the opponent is just a bit stronger mentally than them.
Then in the 10th minute Neftchi started to pressure Partizan more and more heavily. In this minute Lukač saved a shot, the ball got out, corner. This corner ended up in another corner, but after this the guests did not make any more mistake... :( It was Cruz, with an "indefensible" goal, he shot it into the net just a few steps from the goal line, with full force. 0:1
And they kept on attacking, aggressively, tirelessly, not sparing both themselves and the players of Partizan, nor the grass. (For the end of the match the entire field was full of bumps, sods were laying all over.)
The next 5 minutes were spent by Partizan trying to attack. Every time either the referee whistled for offside or Neftchi defenders simply pulled them off to the ground. The referee usually just waved "go ahead" with a so generous gesture. Partizan-attacks broke on the defense line, goalkeeper Stamenković was just standing against the goalpost laughing.
Then it was 0:2. Again an indefensible one. The Azeri team got a corner, and the ball again landed in front of Cruz after stirring in front of Partizan's home. The Brazilian shot it in with a phlegmatic move.
It still does not make the facts any different... Not even knowing now, how fast and dangerous Neftchi strikers were.
In the 18th minute Stamenković practically scythed off Grbić, who arrived fast to the Neftchi penalty area. Some complained here for penalty kick, but the referee was not much in a compromising mood. He even gave yellow card to Grbić.
Neftchi kept on attacking, fast and annoying, Partizan counter-attacks were like a butterfly's fart. In the 20th and 22nd minute only the Heavenly Forces (and Lukač) saved the team from another goal. And the Azeri team was pressuring still tirelessly, our defenders worked hard to catch them.
Then in the 25th minute came another huge chance for Partizan. The ball was passed by Petrović to Grbić. Stamenković ran out, Grbić passed the ball to Ninković, the midfielder missed the "all doors and windows wide open"-chance.
In the 29th minute came the first goal for Partizan.
(I did not write "Partizan-goal" and I did it on purpose.)
The team got a free kick, Drinčić was standing behind the ball. The distance from the goal line was about 30 m. The midfielder kicked the ball into the penalty area, where it hit Cruz and fell into the net. 1:2
That's it. To je to, as local fans would say.
In the 31th minute came that yellow card wave, when the referee warned Partizan-players instead of the acting Azeris. The first victim was Ninković, while one of those in red jerseys were playing the dying mother empress while rolling on the field.
Yet when one minute later Škuletić was stopped by body checking
"stopped"... I expressed myself so sophistically, didn't I?
the referee again waved "go ahead".
In the same minute Partizan equalized with a great goal. Grbić got the ball and he lobbed it above Stamenković with a movement that made fans scream. The ball fell right into the net. 2:2
In the 34th minute came Partizan's first corner...
But the ball was still possessed by Neftchi way too much. It seemed like so, that when Partizan could get the ball, they spent long minutes passing it to each other without much ideas. Then the attack broke on Neftchi's defense line, and the Azeris made a very rough counter-attack. Within a few moments they were at Partizan's penalty area. Or if not, they sent a bomb kick from 30 metres, like the one in the 42nd minute, thankfully saved by Lukač.
In the last minutes a lot of time was wasted with medical attendance (again one of the Neftchi-players laid down on the grass to sleep) and in the last minute of the extra time the Turkish referee gave a free kick to the guests. Thank God they missed it.
Half time.
Nothing changed even after the break. Neftchi kept on attacking aggressively, possessing the ball, making very fast counter-attacks. The first 5 minutes passed this way, Partizan could do only one counter-attack, but Grbić missed it. In the 53th minute Partizan got a free kick, but Lazović kicked Ninković's ball high, it flew out to the neighbouring 25. Mai Museum.
The 54th minute brought another huge (and missed) Partizan-chance. After an amazing Brašanac-Lazović-Vulićević interplay Lazović fell on the ground clashing with the goalkeeper, the arriving Partizan-defender's shot left the ground flying out just next to the goal post.
So did chances come, one for Neftchi, then one for Partizan. All were dangerous and all were missed. A Neftchi-try rolled out through the line, then Partizan's ball flew out just by the post. The match's pace was still fast and hectic, but Azeris got to Partizan's home a bit less often. As for the other side, Stamenković "pulled down the window-shades".
In the 64th minute Lukač again had a great save, then fans started to cheer and shout loud, because Saša Ilić appeared at the sideline, ready to battle.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Saša Ilić AGAIN had to sit on the bench.
Then Partizan took the lead.
(See, Ilić comes up and it means goal. Another question is, what sort of goal it was, but still, goal is goal.)
In the 69th minute Lazović passed the ball, but it flew ahead just being missed by an arriving Partizan-player. It hit Yunuszade and dropped into the net. 3:2
The Average Fan made a facepalm and did not know whether to laugh or cry.
This goal somehow shook up Partizan, they could more or less bring the game under their control. The pace slowed down a bit. And then, in the 80th minute came Fofana, as Škuletić's substitute.
WHY ONLY IN THE 80TH MINUTE???? WHY???...
Nothing much could be done by him though, yet he can say he played in this game. All that happened left was that even he got a yellow card in the extra time, because the referee kept himself to the "acting Azeri = yellow card for Partizan" rule. (I bet this new rule was made by him, right before the match, in the locker room.)
At the very end Partizan again missed a huge chance, and finally it was the end.
<dramatic>
For me, too.
</dramatic>
Highlights:
Facts:
Location: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 11 000
Referee: Hüseyin Göcek (linesmen: Mustafa Emre Eyisoy, Orkun Aktas; substitute referee: Suleyman Abay) - TUR
FK Partizan: Lukač - Vulićević, B. Ilić, Stanković, N. Petrović - Ninković (A. Živković, 60.), Grbić (S. Ilić, 70.), Brašanac, Drinčić - Škuletić (Fofana, 80.), Lazović
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
Neftchi Baku: Stamenković - Cruz, Yunuszade, Bertucci - Abdullayev (Sebastian, 72.), Flavinho (Masimov, 81.), Wobay, Ramos, Caue, Seyidov (Imamverdiyev, 90.) - Nfor
Head coach: Boyukagha Hajiyev
Goal scorers: Cruz (29. - own goal), Grbić (32.), Yunuszade (69. - own goal), then Cruz (11., 17.)
Yellow cards: Grbić (19.), Ninković (31.), Stanković (45.) Drinčić (65.), Fofana (90+1.), then Flavinho (7.), Bertucci (53.)
(Photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
No joke.
This post is being written by a decaying corpse, that still makes a twitch here and there while typing.
Geez, wasn't it a tough match.
At first nothing special seems to be there. 3:2, what a great evening. Lots of goals, surely it was superb, the team won, so what's this nervous tic?
Well, nothing special, indeed, just the fact that the two Azeri goals were shot within the first 20 minutes. The first came right in the 11th minute. As for the 3 Partizan goals, only one (1) of them was actually scored by a Partizan-player.
You see it now, right?
(Defibrillator does not help anymore.)
Also the Turkish referee was spreading yellow cards as much as if he was given extra payment for it. And if one of the Latin-American players demonstrated his acting abilities, he showed immediately the yellow card - to the Partizan-player.
Here come the boys...
So, players came out to the field and started to run here and there half-mad. (I mean "half-mad" that both teams seemed to be very nervous.) Right in the 2nd minute one of those latino players laid down in the grass (who knows, maybe he was sleepy...), the referee gave a free kick to the guests. And the free kick landed in Partizan's net. And if the linesman hadn't been waving for offside, even now it would have been 0:1.
In the 4th minute a huge Partizan-chance was missed. (There will be more of this kind...) Vulićević passed the ball to the middle, it jumped from the goalkeeper right in front of Ninković. The midfielder shot, but one of the defenders ran, jumped, crawled, slid and saved the ball about half millimeter before the goal line. The ball rolled out through the sideline. Throw-in for Partizan, the ball was dropped to Lazović, but his shot flew out close to the goalpost.
It was still within the first 5 minutes... Believe me, the entire match was like this, this crazy, this nervous, when after a while you give up screaming, you just gnash.
In the 6th minute the defense line saved a dangerous Neftchi-attack. Corner. A minute later Vulićević was kicked to the ground hard. The free kick flew out to the stadium taking a solar orbit, the ball was brought back from Dragan Mance street.
A match moment: Nemanja Petrović passes, the opponent jumps on the ball like an orangutan on the tyre swing
Azeri players, mostly those Brazilians, well, God knows what sort of stuff they're fueled with, they ran a lot and too fast, they jumped on every possible ball, kick and pass and once they got the ball, they gave it to each other with these annoying, short passes, while Partizan-players rushed after them desperately.
Don't take me wrong, none of these Brazilians were anything special. It's fact they were fast, but it got proven as well that they collapse and fade into the average as soon as the opponent is just a bit stronger mentally than them.
Then in the 10th minute Neftchi started to pressure Partizan more and more heavily. In this minute Lukač saved a shot, the ball got out, corner. This corner ended up in another corner, but after this the guests did not make any more mistake... :( It was Cruz, with an "indefensible" goal, he shot it into the net just a few steps from the goal line, with full force. 0:1
And they kept on attacking, aggressively, tirelessly, not sparing both themselves and the players of Partizan, nor the grass. (For the end of the match the entire field was full of bumps, sods were laying all over.)
The next 5 minutes were spent by Partizan trying to attack. Every time either the referee whistled for offside or Neftchi defenders simply pulled them off to the ground. The referee usually just waved "go ahead" with a so generous gesture. Partizan-attacks broke on the defense line, goalkeeper Stamenković was just standing against the goalpost laughing.
Typical match scene: Škuletić in a "sandwich" of 2 Neftchi-players
Then it was 0:2. Again an indefensible one. The Azeri team got a corner, and the ball again landed in front of Cruz after stirring in front of Partizan's home. The Brazilian shot it in with a phlegmatic move.
It still does not make the facts any different... Not even knowing now, how fast and dangerous Neftchi strikers were.
In the 18th minute Stamenković practically scythed off Grbić, who arrived fast to the Neftchi penalty area. Some complained here for penalty kick, but the referee was not much in a compromising mood. He even gave yellow card to Grbić.
Neftchi kept on attacking, fast and annoying, Partizan counter-attacks were like a butterfly's fart. In the 20th and 22nd minute only the Heavenly Forces (and Lukač) saved the team from another goal. And the Azeri team was pressuring still tirelessly, our defenders worked hard to catch them.
Then in the 25th minute came another huge chance for Partizan. The ball was passed by Petrović to Grbić. Stamenković ran out, Grbić passed the ball to Ninković, the midfielder missed the "all doors and windows wide open"-chance.
There were not just one or two of such heated moments, when the referee had to interfere
In the 29th minute came the first goal for Partizan.
(I did not write "Partizan-goal" and I did it on purpose.)
The team got a free kick, Drinčić was standing behind the ball. The distance from the goal line was about 30 m. The midfielder kicked the ball into the penalty area, where it hit Cruz and fell into the net. 1:2
That's it. To je to, as local fans would say.
In the 31th minute came that yellow card wave, when the referee warned Partizan-players instead of the acting Azeris. The first victim was Ninković, while one of those in red jerseys were playing the dying mother empress while rolling on the field.
Yet when one minute later Škuletić was stopped by body checking
"stopped"... I expressed myself so sophistically, didn't I?
the referee again waved "go ahead".
I bet Škuletić did not find it sophistical at all
In the same minute Partizan equalized with a great goal. Grbić got the ball and he lobbed it above Stamenković with a movement that made fans scream. The ball fell right into the net. 2:2
That's it. Stamenković missed it with just a few centimeters, but that was enough.
In the 34th minute came Partizan's first corner...
But the ball was still possessed by Neftchi way too much. It seemed like so, that when Partizan could get the ball, they spent long minutes passing it to each other without much ideas. Then the attack broke on Neftchi's defense line, and the Azeris made a very rough counter-attack. Within a few moments they were at Partizan's penalty area. Or if not, they sent a bomb kick from 30 metres, like the one in the 42nd minute, thankfully saved by Lukač.
In the last minutes a lot of time was wasted with medical attendance (again one of the Neftchi-players laid down on the grass to sleep) and in the last minute of the extra time the Turkish referee gave a free kick to the guests. Thank God they missed it.
Half time.
Nothing changed even after the break. Neftchi kept on attacking aggressively, possessing the ball, making very fast counter-attacks. The first 5 minutes passed this way, Partizan could do only one counter-attack, but Grbić missed it. In the 53th minute Partizan got a free kick, but Lazović kicked Ninković's ball high, it flew out to the neighbouring 25. Mai Museum.
The 54th minute brought another huge (and missed) Partizan-chance. After an amazing Brašanac-Lazović-Vulićević interplay Lazović fell on the ground clashing with the goalkeeper, the arriving Partizan-defender's shot left the ground flying out just next to the goal post.
So did chances come, one for Neftchi, then one for Partizan. All were dangerous and all were missed. A Neftchi-try rolled out through the line, then Partizan's ball flew out just by the post. The match's pace was still fast and hectic, but Azeris got to Partizan's home a bit less often. As for the other side, Stamenković "pulled down the window-shades".
In the 64th minute Lukač again had a great save, then fans started to cheer and shout loud, because Saša Ilić appeared at the sideline, ready to battle.
He came for substituting Lazović, who personally handled him the captain's armband worn by Stanković until that point
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Saša Ilić AGAIN had to sit on the bench.
Then Partizan took the lead.
(See, Ilić comes up and it means goal. Another question is, what sort of goal it was, but still, goal is goal.)
In the 69th minute Lazović passed the ball, but it flew ahead just being missed by an arriving Partizan-player. It hit Yunuszade and dropped into the net. 3:2
The Average Fan made a facepalm and did not know whether to laugh or cry.
This goal somehow shook up Partizan, they could more or less bring the game under their control. The pace slowed down a bit. And then, in the 80th minute came Fofana, as Škuletić's substitute.
WHY ONLY IN THE 80TH MINUTE???? WHY???...
He even had a new haircut
Nothing much could be done by him though, yet he can say he played in this game. All that happened left was that even he got a yellow card in the extra time, because the referee kept himself to the "acting Azeri = yellow card for Partizan" rule. (I bet this new rule was made by him, right before the match, in the locker room.)
At the very end Partizan again missed a huge chance, and finally it was the end.
<dramatic>
For me, too.
</dramatic>
Highlights:
Facts:
Location: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 11 000
Referee: Hüseyin Göcek (linesmen: Mustafa Emre Eyisoy, Orkun Aktas; substitute referee: Suleyman Abay) - TUR
FK Partizan: Lukač - Vulićević, B. Ilić, Stanković, N. Petrović - Ninković (A. Živković, 60.), Grbić (S. Ilić, 70.), Brašanac, Drinčić - Škuletić (Fofana, 80.), Lazović
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
Neftchi Baku: Stamenković - Cruz, Yunuszade, Bertucci - Abdullayev (Sebastian, 72.), Flavinho (Masimov, 81.), Wobay, Ramos, Caue, Seyidov (Imamverdiyev, 90.) - Nfor
Head coach: Boyukagha Hajiyev
Goal scorers: Cruz (29. - own goal), Grbić (32.), Yunuszade (69. - own goal), then Cruz (11., 17.)
Yellow cards: Grbić (19.), Ninković (31.), Stanković (45.) Drinčić (65.), Fofana (90+1.), then Flavinho (7.), Bertucci (53.)
(Photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Andrija Živković - sold out (?)
NOT good news at all, especially right now, before the international match, but some news sites published it just now that Partizan sold all rights of Andrija Živković - selling rights, buying rights, whatever rights - to an Israeli agency called Pini Zahavi.
For your intention: news say, this agency is behind the transfer of former Partizan-player Lazar Marković. The winger just signed to FC Liverpool, leaving Benfica.
As always, there are no factual datas, nobody talks (only money...), but if rumours are true, 5 million euros landed on Partizan's bank account.
Dear Team Management, dear ladies and gentlemen up there,
I wish to submit the suggestion that from now on you must give account of every single dump you get on your accounts. Publicly, of course. First, you tell the factual amount about how much you received from selling Živković's rights. Then you make a detailed public list made available for everyone (on your website, on Facebook, on Twitter, etc.) what you used this money for. Your accounts will be controlled by INDEPENDENT auditor experts, item by item. And you will do the same with all incomes, ladies and gentlemen. Fans will see everything and they can bring you to account for everything, even for the last roll of toilet paper. And if there's even just one goddamn dinar of deficit, may the Almighty God be merciful to you and save you from raging fans and pragmatic journalists.
All we know now is Živković will be spending the autumn season with Partizan. Afterwards the Israeli agency will decide about his future.
For your intention: news say, this agency is behind the transfer of former Partizan-player Lazar Marković. The winger just signed to FC Liverpool, leaving Benfica.
As always, there are no factual datas, nobody talks (only money...), but if rumours are true, 5 million euros landed on Partizan's bank account.
Dear Team Management, dear ladies and gentlemen up there,
I wish to submit the suggestion that from now on you must give account of every single dump you get on your accounts. Publicly, of course. First, you tell the factual amount about how much you received from selling Živković's rights. Then you make a detailed public list made available for everyone (on your website, on Facebook, on Twitter, etc.) what you used this money for. Your accounts will be controlled by INDEPENDENT auditor experts, item by item. And you will do the same with all incomes, ladies and gentlemen. Fans will see everything and they can bring you to account for everything, even for the last roll of toilet paper. And if there's even just one goddamn dinar of deficit, may the Almighty God be merciful to you and save you from raging fans and pragmatic journalists.
All we know now is Živković will be spending the autumn season with Partizan. Afterwards the Israeli agency will decide about his future.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Stjepanović's new gold medal
Velimir Stjepanović, swimmer of PK Partizan
it feels so good to write it down
won gold in men's 200m freestyle at the European Championship in Berlin with 1:45.78. He broke not just his own record with it, but the Serbian national record as well. Behind him at the second place is Paul Biedermann from Germany (1:45.80), third is Frenchman Yannick Agnel (1:46.65).
If there's video coverage, I'll update the post.
Until then here's a very happy Stjepanović.
Update: here's a video
it feels so good to write it down
won gold in men's 200m freestyle at the European Championship in Berlin with 1:45.78. He broke not just his own record with it, but the Serbian national record as well. Behind him at the second place is Paul Biedermann from Germany (1:45.80), third is Frenchman Yannick Agnel (1:46.65).
If there's video coverage, I'll update the post.
Until then here's a very happy Stjepanović.
(photo: mozzartsport.com)
Update: here's a video
Coming up: FK Partizan - Neftchi Baku UEFA Europa League qualifying + a new boy on board
Tomorrow evening Partizan plays for UEFA Europa League against Neftchi Baku from Azerbaijan. Optimism is always at hand for Marko Nikolić.
- We are out from Champions League because of the away goals' rule. Right now we are in Europa League, that means new challenges. It would be a feat to succeed, as momentary we are the only Serbian team in the international scene.
The head coach said, tomorrow's match would have a good atmosphere, expected a good match, also because nothing weighs down players anymore.
- The more harsh circumstances are, the more determined we are, the more we want to succeed in Europa League - summarized Nikolić.
Obviously tomorrow evening still won't be an easy task.
- Physically Neftchi is similar to Ludogorets. They have four strikers, all of them are fast and can be very unpleasant - explained the trainer.
The old subject of a 2012 Europa League qualifying against Neftchi came up during the press conference (Partizan played 0:0 in Belgrade, then 1:1 in Azerbaijan), and Partizan's then striker, young Aleksandar Mitrović almost got into a fight with the goalkeeper of the Azeri team, former Crvena Zvezda player Saša Stamenković, who made a not too easily explainable hand gesture towards the Grave Diggers.
(Here is an amateur video about the not really uplifting scene, Grave Diggers' raging chant can be heard clearly.)
Marko Nikolić made everyone sure it would not happen again.
- I read a statement from Stamenković, it looked sportsmanlike. At that match the atmosphere was very heated, but tomorrow evening it will not happen.
As for players, Volkov will surely not play after getting injured last weekend. He will be substituted by Gulan (or by Nemanja Petrović). Both Ivan Petrović and Nenad Marinković are ready for battle, just like Andrija Živković and Danilo Pantić. Nemanja Kojić is still struggling with his injury.
To change subject: absolutely officially announced, even Miša Tumbas said "Amen" on it, Partizan signed Rad's defender Lazar Ćirković.
The match starts tomorrow at 20:15, broadcasted live by RTS 1.
- We are out from Champions League because of the away goals' rule. Right now we are in Europa League, that means new challenges. It would be a feat to succeed, as momentary we are the only Serbian team in the international scene.
The head coach said, tomorrow's match would have a good atmosphere, expected a good match, also because nothing weighs down players anymore.
- The more harsh circumstances are, the more determined we are, the more we want to succeed in Europa League - summarized Nikolić.
Obviously tomorrow evening still won't be an easy task.
- Physically Neftchi is similar to Ludogorets. They have four strikers, all of them are fast and can be very unpleasant - explained the trainer.
The old subject of a 2012 Europa League qualifying against Neftchi came up during the press conference (Partizan played 0:0 in Belgrade, then 1:1 in Azerbaijan), and Partizan's then striker, young Aleksandar Mitrović almost got into a fight with the goalkeeper of the Azeri team, former Crvena Zvezda player Saša Stamenković, who made a not too easily explainable hand gesture towards the Grave Diggers.
(Here is an amateur video about the not really uplifting scene, Grave Diggers' raging chant can be heard clearly.)
Marko Nikolić made everyone sure it would not happen again.
- I read a statement from Stamenković, it looked sportsmanlike. At that match the atmosphere was very heated, but tomorrow evening it will not happen.
As for players, Volkov will surely not play after getting injured last weekend. He will be substituted by Gulan (or by Nemanja Petrović). Both Ivan Petrović and Nenad Marinković are ready for battle, just like Andrija Živković and Danilo Pantić. Nemanja Kojić is still struggling with his injury.
To change subject: absolutely officially announced, even Miša Tumbas said "Amen" on it, Partizan signed Rad's defender Lazar Ćirković.
If Miša Tumbas agrees, you know you are at the best place
The match starts tomorrow at 20:15, broadcasted live by RTS 1.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Fans' farewell party for Bogdanović (full video)
It's worth an entire blog post.
Watch for Miša Tumbas.
Vojislav Stanković bought by Lazio
Official news.
Italians paid 600 000 € for the defender, there's only one thing left to decide, whether he can stay in Belgrade until Thursday's UEFA Europa League qualifying or must pack and leave right now.
That's all, folks :(
Italians paid 600 000 € for the defender, there's only one thing left to decide, whether he can stay in Belgrade until Thursday's UEFA Europa League qualifying or must pack and leave right now.
That's all, folks :(
Monday, August 18, 2014
Photo(s) of the day - fans invited Bogdan Bogdanović to celebrate his birthday
Bogi is still in Belgrade, so Grave Diggers took advantage of it and invited him to party. (He has to leave soon to Turkey anyway... :( )
(photos: Facebook/Partizan Iznad SVIH)
Update: there's a video about it :)
Get emotional. Now.
(photos: Facebook/Partizan Iznad SVIH)
Update: there's a video about it :)
Get emotional. Now.
Velimir Stjepanović is European champion!
Serbian freestyle swimmer Velimir Stjepanović won the gold at the 400m freestyle at the Berlin LEN Swimming European Championship. PK Partizan's 21-year-old swimmer won with 3:45.66.
Second was Italian Andrea d'Arrigo with 3:46.91, at third place arrived Englishman Jay Lelliot (3:47.50).
BRAVO!
(photo: mozzartsport.com)
Second was Italian Andrea d'Arrigo with 3:46.91, at third place arrived Englishman Jay Lelliot (3:47.50).
BRAVO!
Birthday
KK Partizan's (former, but still beyond all praise) player, the fantastic, unforgettable
celebrates today his 22nd birthday.
All the very best wishes to the Serbian basketball national team, that won Belgrade Cup last night in KomBank Arena, beating the hell out of Turkey, and it all couldn't have happened without Bogdanović, who was burning on 1000°C, ploughing up the floor, running like a steam roller, galvanizing the seemingly dead team back to life.
Another one who is celebrating today is Partizan's former left wing, Dževad Prekazi, who is 57 today.
BOGDAN BOGDANOVIĆ
celebrates today his 22nd birthday.
(photo: kurir-info.rs)
All the very best wishes to the Serbian basketball national team, that won Belgrade Cup last night in KomBank Arena, beating the hell out of Turkey, and it all couldn't have happened without Bogdanović, who was burning on 1000°C, ploughing up the floor, running like a steam roller, galvanizing the seemingly dead team back to life.
(photo: b92.net)
Another one who is celebrating today is Partizan's former left wing, Dževad Prekazi, who is 57 today.
(photo: crno-bela-nostalgija.blogspot.com)
SREĆAN ROĐENDAN! SVE NAJBOLJE!
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