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/
Vladimir Volkov has signed to Belgian football team KV Mechelen. The news was confirmed on the team’s website. Volkov’s contract with Partizan has expired, there have been rumours for long time about him signing to a team abroad. Finally he chose Mechelen, where he signed for 2 years.
(photo: kvmechelen.be)
***
Branko Ilić has also left Partizan. SOS Kanal brought the news, referring to "informers from the management of Partizan". Ilić signed to Kazakh team FC Astana - Partizan was reportedly paid 300 000 euros for the defender. Upon rumours Partizan’s management didn’t do much to keep the Slovenian - his 160 000 euros/year salary was too much for the team budget.
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It seems, players leave Partizan one after the other... The basketball team has to prepare for the next season without Boris Dallo. The player returned to France - there are no other informations available.
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In the meantime Aboubakar joined the football team in Slovenia.
This again won’t be a match to remember. To be precise, it is that kind that makes nightmares even weeks later.
Čukarički attacked us heavily right from the beginning. Yet, in the 5th minute Kojić got a pass from Bandalovski in the middle, but the shot was too wide, it flew away above the striker’s head. We still possessed the ball, Andrija Živković sent it to the middle from the left side, but the chance was again missed. But the ball was still in our possession, Kojić headed it to Grbić, but the goalkeeper ran out and caught it. Čukarički could immediately run up for a counter-attack. It was dangerous, finally it ended as a corner. The ball dropped to Bojić, he sent a too wide shot to our goal line, but the ball was still theirs. Finally it rolled out of the field. Goal-kick.
Then in the 8th minute Slavoljub Srnić was dribbling among Partizan-defenders. We couldn’t tackle him, even though Drinčić made a slip-in trick to grab the ball (while Čukarički’s midfielder fell on the ground). Bojić got the ball, he didn’t waste his time, but shot from 25 metres. The ball flew into the net passing by Živković, who tried to threw himself into the way of the shot. He couldn’t. 1:0
The sad truth is, it was only a question of time when would Čukarički score their first goal. They were aggressive, both their defenders and attackers were very fast and they immediately noted the smallest gap on Partizan’s defense.
Partizan bench
A minute later Drinčić sent a free kick from about 22 metres, but the ball left the field, rolling out near the goalpost.
In the 12th minute two Partizan-players were kicked to the ground near the penalty area line, in front of referee Mažić. The referee still didn’t whistle. What is more, Čukarički could go to a counter-attack, for our luck they missed it out.
Mažić was not in top form, to say the least. There were cases, not just this one, when he misjudged the situation - whether he had just bad luck or made it on purpose, only he knows the answer... - as Partizan-players were kicked down, often by an aggressive foul of a home team player. He never whistled. But when anyone from Čukarički fell on the ground, free kick always came automatically. Plus he answered players’ complaints in a very impatient, sometimes arrogant way, once he was seen to pull Andrija Živković by his arm.
In the 14th minute Kojić’s pass arrived at Grbić from the right. Grbić passed to the middle, Babović got it and sent a perfect shot to the goal-line. 1:1
So, in the first 15 minutes we died and resurrected. Well, I definitely did.
At this point the match was stopped for about 4 minutes, because a firecracker was thrown onto the field. Mažić could be seen then for the first time he was out of himself. He was running up and down, being seemingly upset, gesticulating. Then the game could go on, with Babović being immediately knocked down to the field.
In the 23rd minute Čukarički ran up for a counter-attack that quickly turned into a re-counter attack by us. Grbić passed the ball to Andrija Živković waiting on the other side of the field. From him the ball got to Ninković. Ninković shot, but the ball flew out above the crossbar.
Andrija Živković played again excellent
In the next few minutes we survived a few dangerous counter-attacks, Mažić’s demonstrations of self-importance, then in the 30th minute Grbić’s shot flew out above the crossbar and ended as a corner. Two minutes later Volkov’s throw-in was sent to the goal line by Kojić, it was dangerous, but the goalkeeper caught it. Then in the 39th minute Grbić kicked with the outer instep - my, if this shot ended in the net... But goalkeeper Stevanović caught it. In the 40th minute Kojić shot the ball from the left, just the angle was too sharp and the goalkeeper caught it easily.
Kojić was one of the players who ran the most during the match.
Čukarički immediately started a counter-attack, it was dangerous again, finally it ended as a corner.
Former teammate Miloš Joić was watching the game from the tribune
We started the second half with a free kick, from approx. 25-28 metres, but Čukarički defenders headed it out. In the 50th minute Kojić was brutally kicked down, right in front of Mažić, but of course he didn’t whistle, just waved "go on".
There were too much of this kind of scenes during the match.
Čukarički was like a bad dream, with too fast and too aggressive players, and their counter-attacks were life-threatening. Their defense line closed up within moments, plus it seemed so as if every defender had their "man" whom they put into a sort of clamp whenever that player was trying around their penalty area. The pace was fast, but still the game wasn’t nice, because even though they ran a lot, there were too many fouls, rough ones, and the referee did nothing to keep them back. (And this brought extra courage for the home team to continue killing Partizan-players.) No wonder they are 3rd on the league table.
Then the 53rd minute brought a chance that made Average Fan scream and have a cerebral haemorrhange. Čukarički ran up for their (n+1)th counter-attack and Stojiljković shot from a sharp angle. Thankfully it was too sharp and the chance was missed out, well, barely. A few minutes later Slavoljub Srnić had a distant shot, it was too wide. In the 61st minute Stojiljković tried with another, distant but powerful shot, Živko Živković saved it.
The moment Saša Ilić joins the game: Babović gives him the captain’s armband
In the 66th minute substitute player Brašanac missed out a chance. The ball came from Bandalovski on the right side. Andrija Živković headed it down and served it to Brašanac, but the midfielder’s shot hit the defenders. A minute later Babović’s shot flew out above the crossbar.
The 71st minute brought Drinčić’s free kick, but it hit the wall instead of the goal line. Corner. Kojić got the kick, he shot immediately, right into the goalkeeper. Čukarički had an instant counter-attack, thank God Stojiljković missed it out, barely again.
Then two minutes later he didn’t.
Stojiljković got the ball in the middle, headed it to the goal line and it flew into the net passing by Živko Živković. 2:1
Cold shower.
But there was no time to stop, in the 78th minute again Brašanac had a try. Bandalovski threw the ball in, Kojić took it and served it to Brašanac, the midfielder’s shot was too wide. Two minutes later Babović fell on the ground inside the home team’s penalty area. No, Mažić again didn’t whistle. Čukarički ran up quickly for a counter-attack, it was very dangerous, but ended as a corner. The kick was shot to the goal line by Regan, but the ball left the field above the crossbar.
In the 85th minute Volkov tried with a shot, but it was too wide. Two minutes later we missed out a very big chance. Though even the goalkeeper ran out, finally Čukarički defenders cleared the area.
Then in the 90th minute we got a corner. Drinčić kicked it in, Branko Ilić headed it, the ball fell into the net. 2:2
For the moments of extra time we sped up. In the 90+2nd minute Bandalovski gave the ball to Kojić, he kicked it in from the right, but the angle was again too sharp. A minute later we ran up for a counter-attack. Šaponjić got an excellent pass, he shot, but the goalkeeper saved. The last chance came in the 90+4th minute, Bandalovski shot, but the ball flew out above the crossbar.
I swear we can be happy with this draw.
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Čukaričkog na Banovom brdu Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 3000
Referee: Milorad Mažić (assistants: Milovan Ristić, Dalibor Đurđević - 4th assistant: Bojan Stanojević - goal line assistant: Marko Popović, Igor Stojiljković)
Čukarički: Stevanović - Stojković, Rendulić, Ostojić, Brežančić - D. Srnić, Regan (Ukah, 90+1.), Bojić - S. Srnić (Janković, 90+2.), Stojiljković, Mandić (Mirosavljević, 61.)
Head coach: Vladan Milojević
FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Balažic, B. Ilić, Volkov - Drinčić, Babović - Grbić (S. Ilić, 66.), Ninković (Brašanac, 63.), A. Živković (Šaponjić, 79.) - Kojić
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
Goal scorers: Bojić (6.), Babović (13.), Stojiljković (73.), B. Ilić (90.)
Yellow card: A. Živković (33.), Stojiljković (76.), Regan (85.), S. Srnić (86.), Šaponjić (88.)
Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 47 points
2. Crvena Zvezda 45 points
3. Čukarički 37 points
4. Vojvodina 34 points
5. Novi Pazar 30 points
6. OFK Beograd 29 points
7. Rad 28 points
8. Jagodina 27 points
9. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 24 points
10. Mladost 23 points
11. Boarc 20 points
12. Napredak 20 points
13. Donji Srem 20 points
14. Radnički Niš 19 points
15. FK Voždovac 18 points
16. Radnički 1923 14 points
There are these occasions, when Average Fan gets a bit emotional, when e.g. the spring season of the current football championship starts and the boys run out to the field. How very much I missed the game, the broadcasts, cheering fans...
Marko Nikolić was watching the game from the tribune, he was substituted on the bench by Zvonko Varga.
(photo: blic.rs)
The first mentionable action happened in the 4th minute, when Lukač was wandering a bit far from his goalmouth and Voždovac’s attackers suddenly appeared at the penalty area. Our goalkeeper made a sliding tackle, kicking the ball out of the sideline. (Then he ran back quickly to the goal line.)
Not much later Ninković was rushing up on the left side, but his pass was caught by defenders. Then in the 14th minute Babović gave a pass ahead to Kojić, who was standing inside the penalty area. He headed it to Ninković, who was sneaking around there. Džigi thanked and walked in the net with the ball. 1:0
In the 17th minute it was again us in action. Živković passed the ball to Volkov, who gave it to Brašanac from the left side, but the chance was missed.
5 minutes later Voždovac was attacking. We could demilitarize them, but here came a period when it was mostly about how to kick Partizan-players on the ground. Živković spent more time laying on the grass than running, then in the 24th minute Kojić fell on the ground (you could hear the striker’s painful scream even through the stream).
Then came the 25th minute. Voždovac’s Nigerian player got the ball in the middle. He dribbled one here and one there and passed it to Karaklajić. The midfielder ran up to our penalty area and passed the ball into the middle. Lukač was watching shocked as Slovenian player Škerjanc appeared out of nowhere, behind his back and headed the ball to the net. 1:1
In the 30th minute Voždovac was attacking again. Odita sent a shot from 20 metres, thankfully it flew out of the field above the crossbar. We could instantly go for a counter-attack, but Ninković’s shot was too wide.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Meanwhile fans of the southern tibune was chanting "Uprava napolje" loud (in English, approx: "Out with the management!").
In the 37th minute Ninković again missed a chance, then 3 minutes later it was Bandalovski sending a shot to Voždovac’s goal line. The shot ended as a corner, Volkov headed it to the goal line, but it was too wide.
In the 42nd minute the world was again watching Bandalovski, but not necessarily for the reason the defender originally wanted. A Voždovac player pushed him down to the ground, and after all these the referee gave the guests a free kick. Lukač saved. Two minutes later we were possessing the ball and we got a free kick. Drinčić sent it in from the left side, Volkov shot it to the goal line while falling on the ground, but Supić saved it.
It was already extra time, we again got a free kick, approx. 20 metres from the goal line. Drinčić was standing behind the ball, but his kick dropped down on the wall. Živković immediately grabbed the ball and made a 25-metre shot. The goalkeeper had to fly in the air to save it to corner.
The very last minute had a Voždovac-attack left, Odita shot from 15 metres, but it was too wide.
Bandalovski in action. The Bulgarian played very well
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The second half started with Volkov getting kicked on the ground. In the 49th minute we got a corner. Drinčić kicked, Volkov got it, but the goalkeeper saved with leg, and the ball dropped right in front of Branko Ilić. Ilić headed, the ball fell into the net. 2:1
In the 53rd minute Voždovac attacked. The ball arrived in the middle from the right, being about 25 metres from the goal line. The shot was dropped from a Partizan defender, right in front of Zlatković, who immediately shot. Lukač jumped and saved. Corner. Finally Brašanac cleaned the area. Two minutes later the guests got a free kick, it was headed on corner by Kojić. In the 57th minute we headed for a counter-attack after a corner. Živković gave a great pass to Kojić from the left, the striker headed it over the crossbar.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
In the 61st minute Ninković was maneuvering to be able to get a corner. It was cleaned by the defenders, but we still possessed the ball. Volkov tried with a heading, the goalkeeper pushed the ball in front of Kojić, the striker shot too wide. Two minutes later Voždovac started a counter-attack after a corner, but Bandalovski interrupted. In the 68th minute the Bulgarian player dribbled himself through the guest team’s half and passed the ball to Ninković, but his shot flew out of the field above the crossbar. A minute later the goalkeeper could barely save Drinčić’s corner, making another one for us. From that corner the guest team grabbed the ball and wanted to head for a counter-attack, but we got the ball back. Živković passed it to Babović from the right, but his heading was too wide.
In the 72nd minute, after a counter-attack there was an upheaval in front of Partizan's goalmouth. A shot came from the left, defenders saved it to corner. A minute later Bandalovski made an amazing sprint while a Voždovac-attacker was trying to find his way to our goal line. The Bulgarian defender won, the ball ran out through the sideline. Throw-in for Voždovac, then the attacker kicked the ball into our goalmouth. Odita was standing there between two defenders. The kick was awful, our defenders headed it down, but the ball dropped in front of the Nigerian, who shot and the ball was in the net. 2:2
In the 79th minute Lovrenčić made a too distant shot above the crossbar from 8 metres. After the goal kick the ball got back to Voždovac (a Partizan defender just simply lost the ball). They didn’t waste time, Džugurdić made a shot from 20 metres. The ball dropped into the net from Lukač’s hand. 2:3
There was about a handful of Voždovac-fans who made a happy dance on the tribune after this goal, while the entire southern tribune was shouting "Uprava napolje".
In the 85th minute after a row of amazing dribbles and passes Volkov headed the ball right into the goalkeeper’s hands. Almost immediately Ninković ran up on the right and passed to Šaponjić, who just joined the game as a substitute. Šaponjić ran up to the corner flag and passed the ball into the middle. A Partizan-player was waiting there for the ball, but a too eager Voždovac-defender was quicker - and the ball dropped into the net from him. Own goal. 3:3
In the 88th minute Marinković had a distant shot, but missed. Two minutes later Voždovac was again heading to our goal line and it looked to be rather dangerous. Our defense line cleaned the area, but it wasn’t a too easy task... For the 92nd minute there was a Partizan free kick left, the referee sent Drinčić backwards at least 4 times before allowing him to kick, because the midfielder was not at the very place where the foul previously happened... Finally Drinčić could kick the ball into the middle, but the chance was missed.
At the end of the game the bitter choir of Grave Diggers still chanted anti-management rhymes instead of the usual singing and greeting the players, while the few fans of Voždovac have probably never been happier than now, to be able to steal one point from Partizan. And the thing is, dear fellow fans, we can be grateful that they stole only one and not three points from us, and we didn’t start the season with a humiliating loss.
Update: some news resources say, the always tight-lipped, barely outspoken Saša Ilić didn't make a secret of being upset after the match, in the locker-room. The team captain put the entire team in their place, also a few players got a personal scolding from him.
And he was right.
Highlights:
Facts:
Location: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 5000
Referee: Srđan Jovanović (assistants: Nemanja Petrović, Jovica Milin - 4th assistant: Milan Mihajlović - additional assistants:Nenad Đokić, Igor Stojilković)
FK Partizan: Lukač - Bandalovski, Ćirković, B. Ilić, Volkov - Brašanac (S. Ilić, 77.), Drinčić - Babović, Ninković, A. Živković (Marinković, 83.) - Kojić (Šaponjić, 77.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
The boys were sent off to Košutnjak to run. (Before anyone gets a heart attack that they had to run straight from Zemun: they were all taken there by bus.)
Ready to kickstart the Steam Roller: Gribć and Babović
Yes, Stanković is still here preparing with the team
So is Volkov...
...Šaponjić arriving behind him can confirm it
Nemanja Kojić
The Captain: Saša Ilić
Brašanac has this wide grin on his face even while running behind Pantić
"Let’s speed up or else we’ll miss breakfast"
Team Živković, doing their best
Petar Škuletić with Mirosla Bogosavac
The prize: many bottles of mineral water
It gives extra spirit to Ninković
Post-running power walk á la Drinčić
Always listen to what experienced players say: Saša Ilić giving tips to Pantić and Brašanac
There are some for whom even this long run couldn’t turn down high spirit
Stretching and crackling joints
Lazović and Branko Ilić stretching
A bunch of youngsters: Marinković, Pantić, Lukić and Šaponjić
We knew we had no chance to qualify for the next round of Europa League even before travelling to England, so the team arrived with no pressure on them. Therefore we played a great game. Our line-up was 4-3-3, Grbić was in the front line on the right side, Škuletić found himself in the middle.
Yet the first 5 minutes brought three (3) dangerous Tottenham chances. The first came in the 2nd minute, for our luck Soldado missed it. A minute later our defenders cleaned, then in the 5th minute Naughton had a too wide shot.
RTS’s speaker repeatedly called Tottenham's defender Vlad Chiriches "Hungarian". He even made it sure the great defender is the member of the Hungarian national team. Well, it's true, my miserable homeland's national team needs such class defenders as one needs water in the desert, but I doubt our brave neighbours in the East would get a laughing fit (including Chiriches) if they got to know such a "charge" was brought against their player. Don't take me wrong: all my respect goes to Romania and Romanian football, in the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
We had a short time meanwhile to find our breath, while a handful of Partizan fans made their voice heard (they were louder than the locals). In the 8th minute Tottenham attacked again, Ćirković headed the ball to corner.
In the 10th minute Grbić got the ball and ran up in the right side. He passed it to Škuletić, who missed it by being just one step behind... Two minutes later again Tottenham banged the door at Lukač’s home. Thankfully they were not allowed to enter. Then in the 15th minute again Grbić ran up, passed again to Škuletić, but this time defenders cleared the area.
In the 18th minute we got a free kick. The ball flew up and almost left the field through the base line, but Branko Ilić saved it.
He passed it back to the penalty area line, where Lazović has been waiting. He finally missed the chance.
In the 21st minute all we could see was someone kicking Ninković to the ground, then in the next moment Tottenham was in front of our goal line. Lamela kicked the ball into the middle, most probably to Soldado, but everyone was behind 1-2-3 steps, all Tottenham and Partizan players. (That was our luck, because if Soldado had been at his place, the result would have been 1:0 at this point.)
Then a fan ran into the field, all of a sudden. It was a big black man, one of the locals. He ran around the field, had a big grin on his face, made selfies with the players, playing hide-and-seek with security guards, who finally successfully push him off the grass.
Naughton is not impressed
Amazing. Okay, next. Ninković got the ball. Džigi ran up, slalomed himself through Tottenham’s half and made a huge kick to the goal from about 18 metres. Pity that Llorente was at his place.
Tottenham immediately started a counter-attack, Ćirković cleared again to corner.
In the 26th minute another fan ran into the field. He was also just running around, though he made no selfies. He still freaked Soldado out so much, that the Spanish forward grabbed the guy and pulled his shirt off. (He made no trouble about it, just continued to run around shirtless. Security guards pushed him off the grass, too.)
In the 28th minute again Škuletić had a great chance. He got the ball from Lazović, but Llorente saved.
At this point Tottenham was less in control of the game than earlier. Partizan broke out of the "bunker". In the 38th minute the home team was wandering around Partizan’s penalty area. Finally Stambouli sent a 20-metre shot to the goal line, Lukač had a great save. We immediately started a counter-attack, Ninković ran up and kicked a marvellous, 40-metre bomber. Llorente saved.
Then a third fan ran into the field.
The Ukrainian referee got fed up and sent the whole branch back to the locker-room, while security personnel threw themselves onto the funny guy and literally carried him off the grass. About 10 minutes later the game continued.
As I later got to know, these three self-appointed pranksters were paid for this trolling. They were all wearing similar shirts with the logo of a company that makes earphones. They even uploaded a video to Youtube about their adventure.
In the 45+8th minute Partizan got a corner. It made a big upheaval inside Tottenham's penalty area, finally it resulted a goal kick, meanwhile it seemed as Chiriches pulled Škuletić to the ground. Two minutes later Lazović had a shot flying above the goalpost, then in the last minute Lamela had a try, but Lukač saved.
At the beginning of the second half Tottenham got the lead. They were running up wild towards Partizan’s penalty area. First Soldado made a shot, but Lukač saved with a great movement. The ball dropped back to the penalty area. Stambouli grabbed it and kicked it into the empty net. 1:0
Two minutes later they ran up again on Partizan’s half. This time Stanković blocked their try, but Tottenham still owned the ball. Finally Lukač caught it and we could go for a counter-attack. Lazović got up to the home team’s penalty area, he even made a shot but missed.
In the 55th minute there were two dangerous scenes in front of Partizan’s goal line. Soldado made a shot (I don’t say it was not offside...), Lukač saved. The second attack came almost immediately. Volkov cleared it, kicking the ball out from almost the goal line, standing behind Partizan’s goalkeeper, who was lying on the ground. Three minutes later again Tottenham had a chance, Lamela made a distant shot, barely missed.
In the 68th minute once again Tottenham attacked. Again Lamela made a shot, it flew out above the goalpost. Immediate Partizan counter-attack, Grbić ran up almost to the base line and passed it to Živković. The midfielder shot, but the ball flew out near the goalpost.
In the 72nd minute Tottenham got a free kick, approx. 20 metres from our goal line. Lukač had a huge save, pushing the ball to corner. The incoming kick hit a player, Partizan’s goalkeeper saved again with a marvellous movement. Three minutes later we made a counter-attack (followed by Lukač running out for a shot with great pace). Grbić had the ball, running up and kicked, but missed.
In the 83rd minute it was almost 2:0, but the home player was on offside. Two minutes later we got a free kick. Volkov raised up to head the ball into Tottenham’s net. Lloris had a great save, Živković arrived out of the blue, but shot the ball on the side net.
In the 88th minute Tottenham missed a huge chance. (Average Fan didn’t really mind it.) Lukač ran out and saved Stambouli’s attack. The ball dropped right in front of Lamela, all doors and windows were open, but the Argentinian midfielder missed it.
Partizan bench
It was the very end, the 90+1st minute. Tottenham attacked again, making a huge upheaval inside Partizan’s penalty area. One of our defenders (I’m not sure if it was Volkov, Ćirković or someone else) tackled the attacker, who fell on the ground. Some complained for penalty, but the referee said no - the slow motion replay confirmed the referee’s decision. After all these Lukač performed one of the savings of his career, when Lamela sent the ball again to the goal. (Many thanks to Tottenham’s Argentinian player to give so many chances for Lukač to be able to show his class.)
Facts:
Venue: White Hart Lane, London
Number of spectators: 20 000
Referee: Yevhen Aranovskiy (assistants: Oleksandr Voytyuk, Oleksandr Komiyko - 4th assistant: Serhiy Bekker - goal line assistants: Serhiy Boiko, Anatoliy Abdula) - UKR
Brašanac and Pantić were watching it from the tribune
Both teams started hard, then in the 7th minute Ninković tested Napredak’s goalkeeper. A minute later Volkov headed a corner right into Popović’s hands. Another minute later (and we are still within the first 10 minutes) Drinčić kicked a 20-metre bomber to Napredak’s goal line, Popović caught it.
In the 16th minute Škuletić got a pass from the right side. He kicked - and shot right into the goalkeeper.
In the 18th minute fans on the southern tribune remembered 18-year-old Partizan fan Nemanja "Rambo" Antić, who died tragically. 18 torches were burning for his memory.
In the 21st minute Škuletić put himself into action again. The ball was stolen at the half-line from fumbling Napredak-players and Ninković gave a pass to Škuletić. He dribbled himself through the guest defenders and kicked an enormous shot - hitting the goalpost.
Match action: Nikola Ninković
In the 26th minute Drinčić made a 25-metre shot to the guests goal line. The goalkeeper saved, the ball dropped back to the penalty area. Lazović was running fast to catch it, but he couldn’t. A minute later Napredak made some uncomfortable moments in front of Partizan’s goal line, finally our defenders cleared the area.
In the 29th minute it could have been 1:0. Saša Ilić shot the ball into Napredak’s net, but the referee invalidated the goal saying it was offside.
But then came the real goal.
38th minute. Ninković got the ball on the left side and passed it to the middle with a powerful kick. Lazović raised from the mass (with a defender on his neck) and headed the ball into the net. 1:0
The last minutes still had some action left. First Drinčić ran up on the right with the ball and passed it to Škuletić in the middle. He shot it with a frenetic movement. The goalkeeper saved, yet if it had been a score, it would have been the Goal of the Year. Then a 30-metre sheer Drinčić-free kick bomber came, but the goalkeeper inactivated it.
Match action: Saša Marković
In the second half Napredak tried to get a grip and get the control over the game. In the 51st minute Trujić had a try from the penalty area line, with no success. A few minutes later Stanojević headed the ball dangerously to Partizan’s goal line after a corner, but Lukač was at his place.
In the 60th minute Marković gave a long pass to Ninković. Everyone’s favourite Džigi headed the ball to the net passing by the goalkeeper running out - but the ball dropped out of the field just barely missing the goalpost.
In the meantime fans remembered 17-year-old Gojko Sekulić, who also tragically lost his life.
This was not the end.
Grave Diggers remembered that Crvena Zvezda fan who was stabbed to death by Turkish fans on 22nd November at the Galatasaray - Crvena Zvezda basketball match.
Meanwhile in the 68th minute Dimitrov had a subtle try, barely missed. Škuletić also had a try from a counter-attack, no success.
Two minutes later Andrija Živković (who joined the game as substitute) passed the ball from the left to the middle, almost from the base line. Lazović jumped up to head it to the goal line, but he was late with just one step. But nothing was lost, because there was Branko Ilić sneaking behind him. The Partizan-defender grabbed the ball and shot it to Napredak’s goal (while making a "tunnel trick" to Frimpong). 2:0
In the 82nd minute Bajić had a try from counter-attack, but his shot was way too wide. Three minutes later Trujić made a shot from a sharp angle, but the ball rolled over in front of the goal line.
Then in the 86th minute Škuletić realized that the match is almost over, but he still haven’t scored a goal. He ran up, stole the ball from a Napredak defender and made a marvellous, 40-metre solo run all alone. He left everyone behind him, dribbled the desperate Popović, who ran out, and walked in to the net with a wide grin, seriously, only the red carpet was missing. 3:0
In the 88th minute Lukač saved Cvetković’s shot. Then we were pretty much in the extra time, most probably everyone was focusing on the aftermatch hot shower, when Napredak made a sudden attack in the 90+3rd minute. Lukač saved Trujić’s shot, but the ball dropped right in front of Ndiaye. The Senegalese striker shot and scored into the empty net. 3:1
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Partizan Stadion
Number of spectators: 3000
Referee: Vlado Glođović (assistants: Srđan Kaurin, Matija Olajos-Nagy - 4th assistant: Branko Pavlović - goal line assistants: Aleksandar Vasić, Róbert Kis-Csepegi)
FK Partizan: Lukač - B. Ilić (Kojić, 88.), Ćirković, Stanković, Volkov - S. Ilić, Marković, Drinčić, Ninković (A. Živković, 71.) - Lazović (Luka, 78.), Škuletić
Head coach: Marko Nikolić
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