Fan blog of Partizan Sports Society (JSD Partizan) in Belgrade, Serbia. Football, basketball, volleyball, handball, ice hockey, water polo, news, players, all that are a matter of curiousity.
A subjective blog. English is not my mother tongue.
English version of http://jsdpartizanfan.blogspot.com/
The match started with a moment of silence for the memory of basketball trainer Vladimir Arnautović, who died tragically young.
Then the boys ran out to the court and won over Vojvodina with an easy training match. There was nothing special or extra, nor any surprise. The 10-point difference was set in the first quarter (13:3). After about 6 minutes the standing was 15:5. I wanted to emphasize this, because Vojvodina scored their next basket in the second quarter, after more than 4 minutes. They couldn’t throw a single basket for almost an entire quarter. In the meantime Partizan kept on throwing the ball into the ring, the standing was 21:5 at the end of the first part. Practically the match was already won at this point.
In the second quarter the standing was 30:5, then Vojvodina finally scored (30:8). For us the only task was to keep the 20-point difference. We succeeded so much that our advantage was 26 points in the half-time (47:21).
Edo Murić some time during the match on the bench
I definitely have to mention that Vojvodina didn’t give it up, they kept on fighting for the very last moment, and for this reason they deserve respect. They fought, they tried on and on, but they looked as if they were cursed. Nothing wanted to work for them, their attempts rebounded from the ring, one after the other. In the 3rd quarter we almost crossed the 30-point difference (60:32), but only almost. This was the point Vojvodina picked themselves together and started to throw baskets. At 63:34 they made a 2:9 series, we finished the third part with 65:43.
In the last quarter we settled back the 25-point difference (70:45). Glišić had his moments as well (75:48). We were again to cross the 30-point border (83:55), and we could even afford to fool around and miss out attempts. For the very end there was Marinković’s free throw left (85:57).
Duško Vujošević and his "sons". It was one of those rare moments when the Maestro smiled
The sports section of Belgian newssite L’Avenir.net asked their readers to vote for the best players of this football season. Former Partizan player, Aleksandar Mitrović, who won the Golden Bull trophy this year (this trophy goes for the best goal scorer) was also selected by the fans to the Team of 2014/15.
Routine victory, or call what you may. This was the smoothest, easiest game of the season.
It was just the beginning, but we made it to 6:18. Tepić started, Milosavljević and Mačvan continued, Murić put the dot to the letter "i". Metalac’s trainer asked for time-out twice in the first quarter, but despite their efforts it became 6:20, then 8:22. We finished the first part with 10:24.
In the second quarter Andrić entered the court, bringing a row of 3-pointers (14:35). We reached the 20-point difference, even stepping over it. We played overwhelming, with a lot of self-confidence, while nothing wanted to work for Metalac, the ball always rebounded from the ring. The standing was 18:39, then 21:41. At the end of the first half it was 23:46, our advantage was 23 points.
We continued like this in the third quarter.
26:52. Our advantage was 26 points.
Then Metalac picked themselves together a bit. At 29:54 they made a 9:1-series (38:55). Dallo settled back the 20-point difference (38:58). From this point on it was about whether we can keep the 20 points as our advantage or not, or maybe we can even increase it. We headed to the final quarter with 46:63.
I have to admit, I have a respect for Metalac-players. All odds were against them, and they looked as if they would be cursed, as the ball almost never fell into the ring. Still they didn’t give it up, they fought, while Partizan played and scored at ease. We kept the 20-point difference, being rather within 20 points than exceeding it. At the end the standing was 60:80 after Mačvan’s 3-pointer, Metalac reduced the difference soon before the buzz with Rakičević’s free throws.
Milutinov himself scored 11 points for Partizan
(photo: mondo.rs)
Current standings of the play-off:
1. CZ 22 points
2. Partizan 21 points
3. Metalac 17 points
4. Mega Leks 16 points
5. Vojvodina 16 points
6. FMP 14 points
7. Konstantin 14 points
12. Tamiš 12 points
I can't, I just can't describe it in any other way.
It has been long since I have seen such a disgusting, gross trash parade - and this is that moment as well, when one wakes up from the first shock to understand how great it was to live in a happy ignorance, not knowing this abomination exists.
The football team decided to celebrate the 26th championship title. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this. They deserve celebrating, they were great, they were heroic, they played their hearts out, sometimes they died on the field. Celebration, applause, champagne are all owed to them. It has always been like this and it will always be. That's how it is at everywhere. And that's how it's right and just.
But for God's sake.
Not like this, not in this tasteless, garish way. Not with Pink 3, this tabloid TV channel broadcasting it live, not with Biljana Obradović, who seemingly mixed this event up with the Oscar gala, not with this entire show being actually about Milorad Vučelić and his overgrown ego.
Finding a more or less working stream of Pink 3, this sight popped up into the eyes of the horrified Average Fan. Yes, you see it well, too. Drummers, dressed in No. 26 T-shirts.
The circus was organized at Crown Palace in Belgrade. Players were pushed up to the stage, while Biljana Obradović acted as if she was the hostess of the show.
I don’t know who dreamed this dress on her, but that person surely had heavy nightmares.
By the way, that cup-alike thing in the middle is a cake. Just sayin’.
The top of this trash show was when players put up their galvanic smile and gathered around the cake, while someone from the background started to play the Serbian national anthem on an electric guitar.
Afterwards Amadeus Band stepped on the stage to play. This was also something I didn't understand. Why not Grupa JNA, why were they not good enough? (Or, with other words, who did well out of it?)
...someone got a lot of money for this.
Everyone was there, who counts...
...also those, who don't...
...there were indeed famous and important guests, like Duško Vujošević...
...Momčilo Vukotić...
...or Serbian actor Dragan Bjelogrlić.
For some unknown reason cigar was an important accessory at this event.
The boss patted the head of the players...
...afterwards schmoozed with the guests...
...while players watched it in shock.
Just one question for these gentlemen here: please, tell me, where did you get the money for this all, for the live broadcast, for Amadeus Band, cigars, whatever? (Or was it the freshly received sponsor money from Audi?...) And let me be a bit demagogue and may I ask, either from you or from other know-it-alls: when will the water polo team get this same-sized celebration with cake, brass-band and Oscar-alike externals? Because they would REALLY deserve it.
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Update: here is a video about this absolutely fantastic event.
Enjoy it.
Or not.
May a thunderbolt crash into all goddamned sports sites that none of them was willing to report about Partizan’s handball match. Only Sportski Žurnal was soooo generous to mention in a half-sentence that "Partizan lost against Metaloplastika", but the battle between Spartak and Radnički seemed to be more important for them. I have had more than one and two rants about sports/news sites barely or never mentioning RK Partizan or handball in general. For God’s sake, there is the superliga, players, teams, fans, please, respect them by writing match reports.
The fact is still a fact though, we lost against Metaloplastika. I must sadly admit, Metaloplastika was better. The truth is, we missed out too many chances and goal attempts for the entire match, and Metaloplastika used it for their own benefit.
In the first half both teams built a concrete wall around their penalty area. There was a big battle on the court, with very few goals, about 10 minutes before the end the standing was 4:6. Teams started to score in the last minutes of the half. 5 minutes before the end it was 8:10. At a point we could equalize (10:10), that was the only moment we could catch up with the guests. The result of the first half was 11:13.
In the beginning of the second half Metaloplastika was leading to 13:16. It soon became 13:18. We still missed out our attempts... Vanja Ilić scored two, reducing the difference (15:18), but the guests were still leading. Around the 48th minute we made it to 21:22, but at this point the game was fragmented, there were a lot of fouls. A Partizan-player (I’m not sure which, it was impossible to see his shirt number from the distance) got so injured he couldn’t continue the match. (Mršulja substituted him.) Metaloplastika made a 4-goal series (21:26). There were maybe 2 minutes left from the game when both teams started to score in large scale. The problem was that Metaloplastika scored more than us.
The hero of the game was Vanja Ilić, scoring 8 goals. He is followed by Sretenović (4 goals), Marsenić (3), Radojković, Kukić and Popović (2-2) as well as Mršulja and Pavić (1-1). You can watch the first half here, the second here.
The U20 Serbian national team - together with Andrija Živković, Ivan Šaponjić and Miladin Stevanović - are taking part at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand. Some students of a local high school visited them at a training and taught them Haka, the maori war dance. (You may have seen it here.)
...and now I imagine as Partizan-players perform it at the next eternal derby while the shocked opponent is just watching with eyes popped out.
It was actually smooth. In the very beginning FMP tried to insist they were better, until approx. 0:4, then Andrić and Murić re-established the situation (7:7). There was about 4 minutes left from the first half, until then the two teams performed a more or less equal battle. Then Andrić increased our difference to 15:11. FMP tried to keep the pace, but we were always ahead of them with 1-2-3 points. Finally Milosavljević and Milutinov increased our difference more (20:14), and Murić scored a 3-pointer right before the buzz. The result of the first part was 23:14.
Match action
The second part was even smoother. We quickly improved to a 10-point difference (26:16)
I bet Pavlović again chewed an uranium rod before entering the court
and we still kept on scoring. Marinković (28:18), Đumić (32:20), there was even enough energy for Pavlović and Mačvan to make a fantastic teamwork (34:20). From the opponent only Čović was active, but one swallow will not make a summer... Still the small, bald guy of FMP reduced the difference to 34:26.
Time-out some time during the match
Pavlović increased the difference back to 10 points with a hook (36:26). Čović might have got upset on this, because he alone scored 6 points (38:34). Đumić took control of things, either by making a giant block or scoring (40:34). The half-time result was 42:38 and it was clear that only Čović might cause us a light headache from FMP, otherwise this task will not cause problems.
Miša Tumbas arrives to support the boys
Dallo started the third quarter with a 3-pointer (45:28), Milutinov increased us back to 10 points with a 5-point series (50:40). There was a great battle on the court, finally the referee decided to solve the situation by giving a technical foul to Milosavljević. For some unknown reason it gave an extra speed to FMP, they reduced the difference to 50:47. Milutinov and Tepić scored, it was 54:47 then, but the small, bald Čović refused to resign himself to the inevitable (54:50).
What the hell, did this guy eat an entire nuclear plant?...
Marinković scored a 3-pointer (57:50), but FMP chose new tactics, namely to steal the ball. Their tallest player just reached out with his XL-sized arm and the ball was theirs (57:54). As for us, we sent Marinković to the battle (59:54), while Murić was so full of energy he even made an alley-oop trick (61:54). Milutinov washed up the floor of Pionir Hall with FMP (63:54 + a HUGE block), finally Milosavljević’s score ended the quarter (65:56).
Milutinov deserved a high-five
The last part started with Marinković’s unbelievable, fantastic block. An FMP-player again reached out and stole the ball, but Marinković ran after him and with a jump he stopped the opponent. Andrić settled back World Peace and the 10-point difference (67:57).
Partizan-bench: Milosavljević, Murć and Glišić
From this point on it was a clear triump. We exceeded the 10-point-difference (75:60) after Milutinov and Murić took control in their hands. No matter how much FMP tried with 3-pointers, they couldn’t take this victory away from us.
As soon as there are any video highlights, I’ll update the post.
One would think the last round of the season will be easy. We’ll have just some light playing on the green grass, our victory is beyond question, with one, two or even three goals, then comes celebration, waving, blowing kisses and finally everyone can go home and leave for the well-deserved holiday.
Then Life said "LOL, one sec".
Partizan’s starting eleven was a reserve team. Ninković was again our team captain and we had Predrag Luka on the right side of the midfield, who was seen last time long long ago.
I don't know why he was neglected for such a long time. If you know it, tell it to the comment box.
The first mentionable action was in the 7th minute, but even then it was only Marković’s distant but weak shot. Home team made a counter-attack from this, Jevtović ran up, dribbled and shot from our penalty area line, too wide.
In the 9th minute we got a free kick. Ninković stood behind the ball and shot, the goalkeeper could barely save it with fingertips. Corner kick, Balažic headed it to the goal line, but it was too wide. Two minutes later Vulićević sent a distant shot to the goal line from the right, the goalkeeper caught it.
In the 12th minute Borac got a free kick, 40 metres from our goal line. The shot came from the left, making an upheaval in our penalty area. Jevtović grabbed the ball. He was wrestling with Luka, then suddenly shot the ball to our goal line. Živko Živković saved with fantastic reflexes.
The ground was cloddish and muddy after days of rain, players looked after the first 15 minutes as if they were mud wrestlers and not football players. In the 17th minute Grbić got a great pass. He ran up on the right and passed it to the middle. Ninković immediately shot the ball to the goal line, but goalkeeper Bajić saved it. The ball flew towards Luka, he jumped and headed it to the net. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL!!!! 0:1
In the 21st minute Borac got another free kick. Krunić shot, but the ball flew out above the crossbar.
In the 28th minute Ožegović got a big pass from the half line. The attacker was all alone facing our goal line
it was at least suspicious if not an actual offside, but neither slow motion replays, nor match highlights confirmed it
Balažic tried to catch him, but it was too late: Ožegović shot the ball into our net. 1:1
We didn’t have to wait too long for Partizan’s reply.
The next minute brought Vulićević’s pass to Marković. Marković shot it to Marinković, who was standing at the other side of the penalty area. Marinković thanked and kicked it from 16 metres right into the middle of the net. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!! Yesss, we are leading again! 1:2
In the 30th minute another Borac free kick came, somewhere between the penalty area line and the left sideline. The kick came to the goalmouth, making an upheaval, then Jevtović kicked the ball into the sky.
At this point Borac tried to speed up. They were continuously attacking. In the 33rd minute Jovančić sent a shot to our goal line from 20 metres, too wide.
Fans started to chant "uprava napolje".
In the 36th minute Ninković had a shot to the goal from the left side, too wide.
Three minutes later Borac had a free kick from 25-28 metres. The shot was flat and weak, Luka cleared it easily.
In the 43rd minute Lukić made a great row of dribbles and passed the ball to Grbić.
Grbić gave it to Luka, he passed it back to Grbić, it was a great sight, but Borac defenders tackled Partizan’s attackers.
In the second half there was a penalty-suspicious situation right in the beginning. A Borac player fell on the ground inside our penalty area, the referee
sometimes even we can have some luck
waved "go ahead". Borac got a free kick in the 49th minute, 28 metres from our goal line. The shot was too wide.
Živko Živković had to stand in a sea of mud in the second half
A minute later Jevtović got a pass and ran up to our goal line, while two defenders from us were hanging on him. He rushed up on the left side and shot, Živko Živković saved it. But the ball dropped to Zec, who was sneaking up there unnoticed. Nobody tried to tackle him, so he shot, into the middle. 2:2
In the 54th minute Petrović got the ball from Grbić, he shot, but the ball flew out above the crossbar. Three minutes later Borac got a free kick. Stefan Živković kicked it into our penalty area from 40 metres. In the goalmouth someone pushed the ball with the head, right to Mutavdžić. Mutavdžić rose up, nodded, the ball ended in our net. Unbelievable. 3:2
The pace slowed down at this point, even though it wasn’t too fast by default. This result was the best possible for Borac, as for us... well, we were playing without any useful idea.
All right. I get that I should not expect too much from a reserve team. Also an average fan always wants victory and goals. But there is no excuse for this, to turn the standing from 1:2 to 3:2, in such a terribly boring match. I’m sure, too, everyone knew Borac wants to avoid being dropped out of SuperLiga, so they will fight with their best players. I get it, too, that for us there was no actual stake for this match, but for God’s sake, this team with no ideas is NOT Partizan. It is inadmissible for us, even for the reserve team.
In the 61st minute Luka tried with a shot, but it ended as a corner kick.
Then in the 67th minute the referee gave red card to Ninković. It was his second yellow card. From then on Partizan played with 10 players.
In the 75th minute young Miloš Kukolj debuted in the senior team. He played as a substitute for Predrag Luka.
In the 77th minute Ožegović ran up with the ball and at our penalty area he passed to Milojević. Milojević passed it back to Ožegović, who shot. The ball hit a Partizan-defender, Živko Živković performed again one of his great saves.
In the 79th minute Maslać pushed Petrović to the ground inside their penalty area. Penalty, no question, the referee immediately pointed at the eleven-metre sign. Grbić stood behind the ball and shot it to the lower right corner of the net. 3:3
I swear, this penalty saved us from a big big shame.
In the 87th minute Kukolj passed the ball to the middle, but a Borac-defender was quicker and headed the ball earlier than Partizan’s player.
Then it ended. Final whistle. We are the champions, now officially. I admit, I can only hope we’ll have a much better, much more combative performance at the Champions League qualifying than this.
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Borca kraj Morave Stadion, Čačak
Number of spectators: 3000
Referee: Majo Vujović (assistants: Dejan Potočan, Branko Pavlović - 4th assistant: Jovica Milin - goal line assistants: Aleksandar Vasić, Dejan Santrač)
and by this they will play in the qualifyings of Champions League (from where they’ll hopefully make it again to the group stage). Crvena Zvezda, Čukarički and Vojvodina will play in the qualifyings of UEFA Europa League.
Donji Srem and Radnički 1923 are dropped out of SuperLiga. From Prva Liga FK Radnik Surdulica and FK Javor qualified to SuperLiga. Napredak must play in the play-off against Metalac to decide which they will be able to play in the SuperLiga next season.
Dear Everyone, that was Jelen SuperLiga season 2014/15. Now everyone can have some rest and heal the broken nerves, because we all will need them soon again. Time for some relaxation, and then, if my informations are correct, the Champions League qualifying draw will be on 22nd June. Partizan joins the qualifying in the 2nd round. Matches of the 2nd round will be played between 14th and 15th July as well as on 21st and 22nd July. You’ll be informed about everything in time.
To resume the game in short: in the beginning we demonstrated how not to play basketball, at the end we demonstrated how it must be played.
Between these two there were cardial arrest, depression, scratching the floor and at least two brain deaths.
It started fine. Saša Pavlović returned after his injury. He joined the game some time in the second quarter.
In the beginning it was a nip and tuck game, then Mega Leks took the lead at 7:7.
And it remained like that for long.
It was awful. Not just the fact nothing wanted to work out for us, but rather the other fact Mega Leks was better. They controlled the game, they took advantage of all our fumblings. Even though Murić equalized soon before the end (16:16), Krstić scored a 3-pointer just at the end buzz using a moment of carelessness to the full (19:16).
This was the secret weapon of Mega Leks. Their counter-attacks were extremely quick and if we had just one very short abscent-minded moment, they stole the ball and scored. In the second quarter it started to be awkward, when their advantage grew above 10 points (27:16). And no matter how Marinković threw 3-pointers or how much Mačvan was burning on 1000 degrees, Webster just reached out, stole the ball and scored (41:30). In the meantime referees whistled fouls for unbelievable reasons
seriously, what was wrong with Andrić after the time-out?...
but without Andrić and his score before the buzz we would have finished the first half with 10 points of disadvantage. This way it was only
only?...
8 points. (42:34)
The (x+1)th time when the referee’s judgement was beyond common sense. Mačvan, Murić and Mega Leks’s Kešelj surround him.
Our ordeal continued in the 3th quarter.
It was the same like the previous two. Mega Leks controlled the game, stealing the ball numerous times and ruthlessly scoring. Miljenović and especially Jokić were unstoppable. The difference was always at least 5-6 points to their advantage. Tepić, Mačvan, Milosavljević and Milutinov all struggled hard, with their teamwork we ended the third part with 66:61.
Dragan Milosavljević some time during the match
At the beginning of the last quarter it did not seem to have any kind of change soon. Even if we could score a basket, there was an immediate reply to it from Mega Leks. In the heat of the battle Šulović hit Mačvan on the face, the referee didn’t whistle, but as an extra "gift" Mega Leks’s advantage grew to 10 points (76:66). Average Fan started to compose a very sad match report. Pavlović and Tepić scored (78:71), the instant answer was Šulović and Jokić (83:71). What is more, after a free throw it grew to 84:73. Oh, God, it’s unbelievable... It has been long since we were defeated with such a difference, being so humiliated during a match against a clearly better team.
And then came Saša Pavlović.
Saša Pavlović came, saw and made such a 5-point series (87:78) that Mega Leks’s trainer immediately asked for a time-out. It was good for Pavlović to have some extra deep breaths before continuing to plough up the Sremska Mitrovica sports hall (84:83). Our difference was only one point, Pavlović looked as if he had chewed enriched uranium in the break before the quarter. He was the one who took us to the lead (84:85) meanwhile Mega Leks were watching in shock. They equalized from free throw (85:85). Pavlović got cranked up so much that one moment before the end buzz he threw the ball towards the basket from half-court, but he missed.
Extra time.
Sweet Jesus, in this part of the game screaming cardial arrest came in every minute. Šulović scored (87:85), Pavlović equalized (87:87). There was a great battle on the court, but the referee - God knows why - whistled a technical foul to Pavlović. Pavlović called all the saints of heavens as his witness, but the referee was relentless.
Then the referee whistles foul on Zagorac as well. Both sides get free throw. Pavlović takes us on the lead (87:88), Mega Leks equalize (88:88). They even take back the lead (90:88), Mačvan equalizes (90:90). Mega Leks is back to the lead (92:90), it’s again Mačvan who equalizes (92:92). He even gets a bonus shot. We are back to the lead (92:93).
There will soon be a hole on the floor, I scratch it so much in these heated moments.
Mačvan again. What a performance he makes. (92:95) At this point Pavlović gets fouled out. Fans chant his name screaming. 93:95. Then Mega Leks equalize. 95:95, there is maybe one minute left from the extra time.
We get a free throw.
Tepić.
95:96.
The end. Buzz.
We won. What a game it was.
Current standing of the play-off:
1. CZ 18 points
2. Partizan 17 points
3. Metalac 14 points
4. Mega Leks 13 points
5. Vojvodina 13 points
6. FMP 12 points
7. Konstantin 11 points
8. Tamiš 10 points
