XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 15, 20th August, 2016

THE WATER POLO TEAM IS THE OLYMPIC CHAMPION!!!

They won!!!

They are the best!!!

What a game it was.
They splashed into the water and sank the Croatian team. It was no question even for a moment who'll win.
The Croatians could keep the pace only in the very beginning. They equalized after 0:1, but then they couldn't. Not once.
Serbia was leading to 2:3 at the end of the first quarter. Goalkeeper Mitrović made amazing tricks and saves. He saved everything. Every possible and impossible shot. I’m sure he allowed those 7 scores into the box by fraternal sympathy. To keep those poor neighbours away from complete destruction. He saved 12 from 19 (!!!) shots.
In the half-time it was 3:6 for Serbia.
The other hero of the day was Dušan Mandić. Partizan’s former team captain was more wicked than all the devils of hell. He scored such goals that made the pool dry. Both from distance and from nearby. All you could see was the water started to boil as if you’d threw a piece of raw meat among piranhas. Then a mighty left hand raised, swung the ball, shot and scored a giant goal. Then Dušan Mandić appeared, too (belonging to the left hand mentioned above) to celebrate.

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

For the third half the standing was 5:9, even though Croats substituted their goalkeeper in the meantime. Josip Pavić arrived and the totally done Marko Bijač could have a rest.
Filip Filipović nevertheless had a nice welcome gift for Pavić (4:8).

It was already sure even at this point that the Croatian team needs a smaller miracle to be able even just to equalize.
For the last quarter the Croatians fell apart. The most typical moment was when the Croatian coach asked for timeout at 6:10, then when the teams returned to the pool Mandić scored just another goal. Serbs started to celebrate in the very last minute of the game already, and then when the end buzz came...

ŠAMPIONI!!!
Posted by Partizane naš si ponos on Saturday, August 20, 2016

Champions.
They totally deserve to celebrate and to be celebrated.

Živko Gocić, one of the toughest players of Team Serbia could not keep his tears back on the podium. Next to him there is Dušan Mandić celebrating

And big big congratulations to the Serbian female volleyball team for their silver medal...

...and to the Serbian female basketball team for the bronze!

Predrag Danilović was there to support the basketball team...

...as well as Saša Đorđević

(unmarked photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 13, 18th August, 2016

Another silver medal for Serbia!!!
Congratulations and salutations to Marko Tomičević and Milenko Zorić for their silver medal in men's 1000 m kayak double!

Asmir Kolašinac could not qualify to the men’s shot put final. He finished 8th in Group B at the qualifications with 20.16 m.

Ono što je trebao biti san,pretvorilo se u košmar...jedan veoma loš dan,odnosno veoma loša sezona. Povreda je nažalost ostavila predubok trag...uključujući ovo takmičenje samo 8 sam ih imao ove godine a to je za mene malo da udjem u pravu formu i da rutinski bacam blizu 21m i preko. Ovu prvu dvojicu Amera ne zelim da komentarišem ali bronza sa 21.36m i da sam onaj od prošle godine...možda je moglo sve biti drugačije. Ali tako je bilo sudjeno,takmičenja i šansi će uvek biti Treba samo biti spreman i strpljiv. Hvala svima na porukama podrske koje ste mi slali i svima koji ste uz mene i kada gubim...slavicemo mi akoBogda jos puno puta!

A photo posted by Kolasinac Asmir (@asko_kolasinac) on Aug 19, 2016 at 5:04am PDT

The Serbian water polo team had a sweeping victory against Italy to 8:10, and they qualified to the final!!!
The truth is that it was a totally smooth game, the reason the difference is "just" 2 goals is that Serbs practically joked the end off. The first quarter finished with 0:3, the half time was 2:6 (it was 0:6 in the middle of the second quarter, Italians scored their first goal less than two minutes before the end). The third quarter brought just one single goal (2:7), in the fourth it grew to 5:10, Italians scored three goals in the last 4 minutes, while Serbs were just chilling on the waves with a big smile, knowing well, that whatever Italians try, they won’t be able even just to equalize.
The finall will be tomorrow against Croatia. It will be a real, true derby, the best kind.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 11, 16th August, 2016

Serbia won its first medal at the Olympic Games!!! And it's a gold!!!
Big big congratulations and salutation to Davor Štefanek, who is the Olympic champion of Greco-Roman wrestling in 66 kg!!!
He won over Migran Arutyunyan from Armenia in the final. First the Armenian was leading to 0:1 after pushing Štefanek off the mat, but then he got a caution that brought one point for the Serbian. According to regulations in case of draw the winner will be the one who earned a point the latest and the Armenian didn't have enough time to gain any more points.

Davor Štefanek with his gold medal

During the national anthem

Yes, that’s the Serbian flag on the top... above all...

Posing for the photographers. Only Bokvadze from Georgia was willing to pose with Štefanek. The Armenian was so down by the end result that he was not willing even to shake hands. (The Azeri medalist doesn’t seem to be too happy either.)

But the gold medalist is Serbia and no one can take it away from them

As for Partizan’s athletes, the water polo team clashed with Spain in the quarterfinal and washed them off. It was an easy game, the Serbian team was leading to 7:3 in the half-time. In the third quarter Spain could reduce it to 7:5, but in the final part they capitulated, and Serbia won to 10:7.

Filipović celebrating

Mandić (on the right) supports his teammates

Unity is strength

Question of the day: how did that Yugoslav flag get there?

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 5, 10th August, 2016

This day should rather be forgotten.
The rowing events had to be cancelled again for bad weather. It means, the Beđik-Vasić as well as the Šljukić-Marjanović duos will race for the 7-12th place on Thursday early afternoon CET.
Update: or not. The weather is again very bad in Rio, so the events are postponed to 17:40 CET.

The basketball team was defeated by France to 75:76. After a very tough first half (first quarter: 17:26, second: 36:40) Serbs took the lead in the third part (60:57), but finally the French team won with one point.

Bogdan Bogdanović’s facial expression tells it all

Bogdanović vs. Tony Parker

Saša Đorđević cannot believe his eyes

Simonović comforting Bogdanović after the game

Viktor Troicki was there to support the basketball team. Next to him stands Vlade Divac, former player of KK Partizan, currently the vice president of Sacramento Kings

Viktor Troicki in the company of Vlade Divac and Novak Đoković

The basketball team is 4th in their group. They have two games left, one against the US, and one against China, both will be more than though.

The water polo team surprisingly got defeated from Brazil to 6:5. Looking at the statistics of the game, it could be a real struggle. The first quarter seemed to be smooth (0:2 to Serbia), then the half time turned to be 3:3 from 1:3. In the third quarter the Brazilians took the lead (5:3), Serbs equalized in the last part (5:5), but then, when only 46 seconds were left, the referees gave a penalty to Brazil which decided Serbia’s fate (Duško Pijetlović had an attempt though afterwards, but the Brazilian goalkeeper, who is that Slobodan Soro, who used to be Partizan’s goalkeeper, but in the meantime was naturalized by Brazil, so, this Slobodan Soro saved Pijetlović’s shot.)

Filip Filipović is blocked, Soro is watching from the background

Dušan Mandić with the ball

And well, the truth is, that the Serbian team is very much behind in their group. They are second last, they have only 2 points. Only Japan is behind them. They have one game left against Australia, then one more against Japan, they must win both, if they want to qualfiy to the quarterfinals.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

VK Partizan - Pro Recco 7:18 (Champions League, Round 9)

Mea culpa: I was fully convinced that the game against Galatasaray was the last one in the Champions League and we have only the Serbian domestic league to focus on. Well, that’s what they call epic fail.
This one was really the last one though.
On this video you can watch the introducing of both teams. You can see what a great applause the former Partizan-players, Dušan Mandić and Filip Filipović receive.

Pro Recco kept the game under control from the face-off. (Duško Pijetlović told after the match, he had expected a bit more resistance from the home team.) The Italian team was in a fantastic shape, they have already qualified to the Final 6, they have good chances to win the title, and this difference was visible on both teams.
Pro Recco immediately took the lead. Jakšić equalized (1:1).
Then nobody knows what happened. Maybe it’s better not to know what happened. Nevertheless the first half ended with 2:8. The Italians were scoring, one after the other, we could earn only one at the very end of the half, by Lukas Gilen.

In the third quarter Pro Recco quickly scored two more (2:10). Gilen threw one more for us (3:10) from power play. We could score a 4th goal as well, yet the guests were leading to 4:12 for the end of the third part. It was one hell of a struggle and there was one more quarter left.

In the fourth quarter we scored three goals, Pro Recco had 6. I think it was high time to end this match as well as this ordeal in Champions League this season.

Gilen and Jakšić scored 2-2 goals, the others (Subotić, Drašović, Asanović) earned 1-1.

A message to Dušan Mandić & co.: after all these please, be kind enough to smash everyone in the F6 down and bring home the silverware. Thanks.

End result of Group B (this time it's really the end result):
1. Pro Recco 22 points
2. Szolnok 21 points
3. Dubrovnik 19 points
4. OSC 9 points
5. Partizan 7 points
6. Galatasaray 1 point

The water polo team is the champion!!!!

This whole story starts in the Banjica swimming pool, where the team played the 2nd match of the final (you can read about the first one here)

and I send a nuclear bomb right into the lap with all my heart to that person who again put the water polo and football match right to the very same date and time

where the two teams fought and struggled with each other for 32 minutes, to make it to 7:7 for the end.
It began with Mandić, who came, saw and it resulted in 2:1 for us for the end of the first quarter. Partizan started with great pace and pressure, while the Kragujevac-based team was just watching with a dry resignation as our Captain scored two goals.

(photo: sportskacentrala.com)

For the second quarter they picked themselves together. They shot 3 goals, but at the same time we also scored 3. We were leading to 5:4 in the half-time. Radnički figured out, if they hadn’t done something very quickly, they would have waved goodbye to the championship title dreams.
After this they took the lead to 5:7 for the third quarter.
It must not keep going like this.

Timeout

(photo: sportskacentrala.com)

There came the 4th quarter.
Jakšić got the ball and scored. 6:7, the difference was only one point then. At the other side of the pool Rističević saved even the impossible.

Statue to him and Soro, NOW, to the entrance of the Banjica pool.

Subotić equalized. End buzz, 7:7. Penalty shootout. Soro was at our goal line, he was the goalkeeper in the first half as well.
And it was an excellent choice. Soro

engild both his hands

saved two penalties. One of them was shot by Ćirić, he saved it literally with his forehead. The other was by Vuksanović. The end result was 12:13, the team was looking forward to the Saturday match with two victories behind them.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

A big thank you to SOS Kanal to upload the highlights of these matches to their Youtube-channel. Without these videos I could have written even less about this match, because - you can pelt me with stones - I was watching the football team’s victory and joy in Kruševac.

Then came Saturday, third match, again in the Kragujevac swimming pool.

This was the most awful. At first it seemed to be perfect. It started after the football match, it all looked too good to be true.
Well, it wasn’t.
The match was broadcasted only by RTS 2. No other channel took it over, and none of the goddamn stream links worked. As if an elephant would have sit on all of them. I swear, I grew 10 years older during these one and a half hours, when I got to know the result. My gratitude goes to pafteq to inform me.

All that I could learn from the different reports, it could be the Match of the Year, nerve-racking, with lots of battles, being uncertain about the final result until the end buzz. We won the first quarter to 4:5. We were still on the lead to 5:7 in the half-time, but Radnički didn’t let themselves push down and it was clear, we must not gather long-term conclusions from this two-goal difference.
It was especially true when Kragujevac reduced the difference to one goal for the third quarter, when we were leading to 9:10. We were ahead with one goal, but the end seemed to be further than ever.
In the last quarter it was a nip and tuck game. One and a half minutes before the end the standing was 13:13.

Those lucky fans who could watch the game, were searching for heart pills at this point, or screamed for defibrillator.

And here came Dušan Mandić and his left hand.
13:14!!!!! We are leading!!!!
And it was still not the end.
Because only 30 seconds before the final buzz our goalkeeper, Dimitrije Rističević, who made wonders again at our goal line, performed one of his best, or not even the best save of his career by keeping our net from Basara’s shot.
End.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
This is our 26th championship title, just like for the football team!!!!
Happiness. Joy. Tears. Screaming, singing, jumping to the water with clothes on.

(photos: zurnal.rs)

The players got these T-shirts after the victory. It says (approx.) "despite all, we are champions again".

(photo: juznifront.com)

(photo: Twitter)

Then they arrived back to Belgrade, where a bunch of happy fans with torches were waiting for them in Banjica.

(photos: juznifront.com)

Partizan will enter Champions League in the next season.

Match highlights:

VK Radnički Kragujevac - VK Partizan 9:10 (Serbian liga play-off final, 1st match)

I would like to know who was that perverted monster being beside themselves who put the water polo final and the football match exactly to the same date. Therefore, until the final whistle in Kragujevac I was clicking between the two streams, and I would bet on anything, those who picked the football match missed more than those who watched the final. It could have been a fantastic game against Radnički.

The home team made a 3:0 series right in the beginning. At this point Vladimir Vujasinović had a time-out, afterwards we quickly shot two goals. Still Radnički won the first quarter to 3:2.
Then came the second part. Kragujevac scored another goal, they were leading to 4:2.
This was the moment they hopefully burned into their memories.
Because from then on Partizan didn’t let them even to find their breath. We scored 3 goals in the second period, our 4:2 disadvantage soon switched to a 4:5 leading. This was the result at the half-time buzz.
In the third part Partizan switched to gun-vessel mode. We were on the lead to 5:8, and that is against a team that made it to the final in the previous Champions League season, with all these young players, well, that was indeed something to remember.
Radnički picked themselves together for the final quarter. They scored 4 goals, meanwhile we had one. If my memories are correct, the standing was 9:9 then (because in the meantime the football match was tearing my nerves to pieces).
And then came Dušan Mandić.
The 20-year-old, 2-metre-tall, newborn-looking Mandić surpassed all the devils of Hell as he sped up and scored a giant goal only 14 seconds before the end of the game. The Park pool of Kragujevac collapsed, Radnički could not equalize, the final result was 9:10. The (other) heroes of the day are Gilen, Subotić, Jakšić, Asanović (all scored 2-2 goals) and Gogov (1 goal).
The second game of the final comes on Wednesday, from 18:00.

Needless to say, it will be again at the very same time as the football match. I send all my love to those who organized it like this, and I wish them all to bang their toes into the corner of the bed in total darkness, in the middle of the night, as they try to approach the toilet.

(photo: sportskacentrala.com)

VK Partizan - VK Crvena Zvezda 7:7, after penalty shootout: 11:10 (Serbian league play-off semifinal, 3rd match)

WE MADE IT!!!!
WE ARE IN THE FINAL!!!!
It was death and resurrection. Drama. Cardial arrest. Tears. Everything that is required for a great match.

Except for normally working stream. The one and only available was like a rheumatic snail, crashing twice in every minute. I could see only fragments from the match.
But who cares?! We won!!!

(photo: Twitter)

For the end of the first part red team was leading to 1:2. Both teams were nervous, and as an extra, Subotić was permanently sent off in the beginning of the match. In the second quarter reds scored two more goals. It was terrible, even if Rističević had giant saves at our goal line, but it seemed the red and white striped team will crash us.
And after all these, they scored one more goal in the third quarter. 1:5. That’s it. There goes the final. Goodbye, championship dreams. We can even go home now, keep moving, people, there’s nothing to see here.

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

I’ll be honest and admit, I don’t know what happened here. I don’t know what Vladimir Vujasinović said (or didn’t say) to the players. I bet though, even they themselves don’t know. But one thing is sure: Partizan shook themselves back to life. First came Jakšić with an amazing, shameless, troll goal. (2:5) Not much later Gilen scored, the ball dropped behind the goal line hitting the crossbar. (3:5)
In the last quarter we swept Zvezda off. Again Jakšić, with a distant bomb shot, Šefik had absolutely no chance. (4:5) Then Mandić equalized from penalty, tearing the net to pieces. (5:5) At this point Grave Diggers were about to kick out the four walls of the Banjica swimming pool from joy, but the best was yet to come.
4 minutes before the end Mandić scored an unbelievable, impossible, giant bombshell goal. With left hand, from distance, overwhelming. He pushed us on the lead. (6:5)

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

Meanwhile we must not forget about Rističević, who made miracles in the goalmouth.
Then Mandić again.
With left hand. Amazing, distant, unsaveable bomb. 7:5. 7:5!!! When not much earlier it was 1:5, Average Fan was thinking of asking Grave Diggers to dig a private grave to lie into it and just die.
Zvezda could still make it for a draw. Not even a nuclear attack could have stopped them. They equalized 9 seconds before the end buzz. Brain death. Nerves torn to pieces.
Penalty shootout.
And we made it. We won.
We won!!!!

A video with our goals:

This is the end of the match with the totally deserved celebration:

And here are 13 minutes of massive cheering and happiness:

First game of the final comes on Saturday, from 18:45.

News and results

There is a bunch of news and results I owe you. Some of them are fresh, some of them are from the previous days. You get them all now, in one post.
I start with the bad news.
Partizan was defeated by the red team in the first match of the volleyball play-off final. This was our first, our VERY FIRST defeat in the entire season. No team could win over us until now.
It was awful. Red players grabbed our throat in the first part and strangled us until they won it to 17:25. They were on the lead for the whole time.
In the second game we picked ourselves together. In the beginning red team still tried to show off, but at 5:6 Lopar equalized, then Majstorović took us on the lead (7:6). We made it to 15:9, then 20:11, finally we won to 25:17 and equalized the result (1:1).
The third part nothing worked for us. Zvezda was ahead always with 2-3 points. There were moments when we could equalize, but it never lasted long. It was a long and tough battle, finally the red stripes won it to 21:24. They were back on the lead. (1:2)
Then came the last period. At first we were leading (4:2), then Zvezda equalized. From then on it was a nip and tuck game. Until 10:9 we kept ourselves quite well, but then, well, it is so hard to say it out, but red team had more resources. Or I don’t know. They won the last game to 13:15 as well as the first match.
The hero of the day was Marko Nikolić, he scored 23 points. He is followed by Lopar and Majstorović, they both had 13 points. Mrdak was playing with injury for the entire match, still he made 12 points. The other scorers are Petar Nikolić (7), Popović (3) and Kostić (1).
Second match will be on Sunday from 16:30.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

***

The basketball team is again targeted by the Serbian Basketball Association. They announced that Partizan would be suspended from the superliga as long as they could reconcile their "outstanding financial obligations".

Let me remind all these jerks, most of all the No. 1. moron Gogić that it was their endless idiotism, servility and narrow-mindedness that drove Partizan into this desperate financial situation. All those impossible and ridiculous punishments of last season threw the team to the edge of bankruptcy, and now you want to suspend them, because they are out of money after your punishments. Congratulations. And I thought last season was the bottom point. How wrong I was. May you all get stuck on a fully crowded, slowly rolling Ikarbus stuck in the Friday afternoon traffic jam, where at least three blood-thirsty Bus Plus controllers are hunting for you, bastards.

***

Let’s pull our boat to peaceful waters (though in the beginning it will still be a bit rocky). The water polo team qualified to the semifinal of the Serbian league play-off, where they clashed with Crvena Zvezda. The first match was terrible, the red team drowned Partizan into the water, winning to 4:9 over us. But in the second game Partizan stroke back and won to 7:9, equalizing the standing to 1:1. It was not easy, the game was a draw even in the half-time (4:4), and red team took the lead in the third quarter (5:4). But then came Gogov and his two fantastic goals (5:6). Vico followed his example (5:7), Stojanović also scored (5:8). Mandić put the dot to the letter "i" in the last quarter with a distant shot (5:9). No matter how hard Zvezda tried, they couldn’t win over Partizan. The end result is 7:9, it’s up to the third game to find out who’ll be Radnički’s opponent in the final.

Dušan Mandić

***

For the end of this blogpost here is the brand new single of Grupa JNA titled Kad jutro svane.
Lyrics are included, you can scream it while dancing pogo. Turn on the volume, so the neighbourhood can also join.

Kad jutro svane, da brojim dane

Kada će doći nedelja

Da bodrim šampione

oblačim crno-bele boje

i odlazim na stadion

Hiljade Grobara misli isto što i ja

Humska jedan JNA

Mi smo tvoji Grobari

U porazu il’ pobedi

Mi smo tvoji Grobari

I kad se reflektori pale

I kad zagrmi stadion

I kada šanse su nam male

Samo da bori se bori se on

VK Partizan - Jadran ST 12:6 (Triglav League)

It's unbelievable, this manifestation of amateur attitude, when in one hand the water polo team's match is not broadcasted at all

but the red team's match is

but the details are barely mentioned, maybe only in the deepest depths of the internet. Even if the water polo boys had a shining victory in the Banjica pool, running through Jadran mercilessly.
The match was one big Gilen-festival, he scored 4 goals, followed by Mandić and his 3 shots.
If there’s anything, photo, video, report

there won’t be any, I know

I’ll update.

Primorje - VK Partizan 14:8 (Champions League)

There was no goal in the first quarter, the two teams were just strangling each other silently. In the second period the fun has started, well, mostly for Primorje, shooting a goal. Our answer came immediately by Mandić (1:1). Primorje scored two more goals in the quarter, as for us, only Gogov had one shot. The half-time result was 3:2.
In the third quarter we equalized with Gilen’s goal (3:3), but the Croatian team took back the lead quickly. They even increased the difference with one more shot (5:3). We could still equalize again. Radojević shot first, then Subotić scored our fifth goal. (5:5)
Primorje still kept control in their hands. They scored two goals (7:5). The difference was reduced by Asanović (7:6), but the Croatian team was unstoppable (9:6). To make things even more difficult, Gilen was fouled out. The Rijeka-based team’s advantage increased even more (10:6). Soon before the end buzz Jakšić reduced the difference from power play (10:7).
The final part brought Primorje marching ahead (12:7). Stojanović also scored from power play (12:8), but soon he was fouled out, too. It was only the coup de grace that was left. Two more goals from Primorje.
Right now we are on the 4th place of Group B with 6 points. Ahead of us, on the 3rd stands Dubrovnik with 15 points. We have no chance to qualify, not even mathematical one. There is only one match left with Szolnok on 8th April.

Mornar - VK Partizan 8:7 (Triglav League)

None of the teams could qualify earlier to the Final Four, so the match didn't have any significant stake.

Probably that's why none of the channels broadcasted it...

Mornar was on the lead for almost the whole time. They won the first quarter to 3:2, but we could equalize for the half-time to 4:4. In the third period the Split-based team sped up and increased the difference to 8:5. In the last quarter we scored 2 goals, they scored none, but even that wasn't enough for a draw.
The hero of the day was the goalkeeper here, too, Rističević had 10 (!) saves, keeping the team back from a bigger defeat. The most goals (2) was scored by Jakšić, the other goal shooters were Mandić, Subotić, Gogov, Manojlović and Stojanović.

VK Partizan - VK Crvena Zvezda 12:9 (Triglav League)

It was a great match.
The two teams started immediately a heavy fight. Nemanja Vico scored the first goal (1:0). Mandić quickly brought two more (3:0, the latter one from penalty), meanwhile on the other side Slobodan Soro saved all tryings of Zvezda with a wide grin.
They could still threw two (3:2), then Draško Gogov shot one just before the end buzz, because it’s better to be safe than sorry. (4:2)

In the beginning of the second quarter the stream died. Me too, a bit.

More than 3 minutes passed until the first goal of the second part, scored by Subotić (5:2). Goalkeeper Šefik just watched with shock, not knowing what happened... Yet Zvezda couldn’t take advantage of a double power play (two Partizan-players were sent off). They still reduced the difference from a counter-attack (5:3), they made a speed-swim to our goal line and shot.
Mandić again scored from penalty (6:3), Soro was the strong bastion of our defense. At the end of the first half, just 10 seconds before the buzz the opponent scored, so we went to the half-time pause with 6:4.
The 3rd quarter started and Zvezda didn't even pushed themselves at the swim-off. Mandić didn’t hesitate much, but scored another goal (8:5).
Then referees showed the red card for Vladimir Vujasinović. (He complained after a foul, referees didn't like it.) The head coach found a place on a tribune, from that point on the second coach was in charge.
Soro was still our biggest strength, Subotić had a brilliant try left, he wanted to shoot with a backhand twist, but he missed. (Had he scored, it would have been the Goal of the Month.)
The final part was opened by Stojanović (9:5), Zvezda had an instant reply (9:6) - but us, too! Repanović scored, immediately (10:6). Zvezda kept on trying (10:7), our rapid reaction came by Manojlović (11:7). What is more, Mandić stole the ball, swam up to Zvezda’s goal line like a shark on speed (all defenders were left far behind him) and threw the ball into the net without mercy (12:7). Zvezda had two goals left to score, but they couldn’t switch the standing to their benefit.

(photo: sportske.net)

Jug Dubrovnik - VK Partizan 13:7 (Triglav League)

This was not funny.
We kept ourselves until 3:3, even then Stojanović equalized. But even the first quarter was won by the Croatian team to 5:3 and they didn’t really climb down from this height. They made it to 7:3, keeping the lead to 8:4 in the half-time.

I'm not sure how much the fact can be on our defense that neither Subotić, nor Tanasković played. I guess, not at all.

After the half-time we got the coup de grace. At the end of the third quarter the standing was 10:5, they settled the final result in the 4th part.
Partizan’s goals were scored by Mandić (2), Radojević (2), Stojanović (2) and Vico (1).

Current group standings:
1. Primorje 40 points
2. Radnički 32 points
3. Mladost 28 points
4. Partizan 22 points
5. POŠK 16 points
6. Budvanska Rivijera 15 points
7. Jadran ST 10 points
8. Branik Maribor 0 point

VK Partizan - Spandau 8:6 (Champions League)

As it often happened to us earlier, too, gears scrunched a bit in the beginning. Germans immediately scored, then Stojanović equalized. The guest team attacked aggressively, their defense line was excellent. They caught and blocked every shot. They gained back their lead from power play (1:2), then Subotić equalized soon before the end of the quarter (2:2).In the second part Gogov took us on the lead (3:2). Germans switched to full force, blocking not just our tryings, but even our thoughts for an effective attack. As soon as they got the ball, they immediately started a counter-attack. But Partizan had Slobodan Soro at their goal line, who brought his usual hammer form. Finally Spandau equalized from a power play, when two Partizan-players (!) were sent off at the same time.
Then came Subotić.
Again at the end of the quarter.
He was far from the goal line. He stopped, swayed the ball in his hand and shot, and the ball fell into the net flying above goalkeeper László Baksa's head. 4:3, it was time for a longer pause.
In the third quarter we pressed Spandau into the concrete bottom of the swimming pool.
Lazić started (5:3), then almost immediately Stojanović (6:3). At the other side Soro saved every attempt, well, if Germans could have any attempt at all. Very often their shots went too far or our defense blocked it. Then team captain Mandić sent a distant shot to Baksa’s goal line. He scored (7:3). We had a difference of 4 goals.
In the final part guests reduced it (7:4). Mandić scored another, the goalkeeper could even touch the ball, but it didn’t help much (8:4). Spandau scored two more, as a two-goal drawback is still better than a four-goal one.

(photo: sportske.net)

Spandau - VK Partizan 8:6 (Champions League)

I'd like to express my gratitude to all TV channels that DID NOT broadcast this match. Would it have hurt?...

We started so good. We were on the lead to 0:2 with the goals of Subotić and Vico. What is more, thanks to Stojanović we made it to 1:3 in the second quarter. But then Germans took over control and we went to half-time break with 4:3.
After the pause we attacked the Berlin-based team so much that Stojanović and Tanasković could switch the standing to 4:5.
From that point on we couldn’t score even one thin goal for long and we had to pay the price. Germans made it to 8:5 (mostly by the goals of Croatian player Ćuk). Mandić could finally score one, 76 seconds before the end.
And no, it does not make me happy that this was the German team’s first victory in Champions League.




Team standing:
1. Szolnok 12 points
2. Primorje 12 points
3. Jug Dubrovnik 12 points
4. Partizan 3 points
5. Galatasaray 3 points
6. Spandau 3 points

Next round: 4th March

VK Crvena Zvezda - VK Partizan 8:8 (Triglav League)

We started with a good pace. Average Fan even had distant day-dreams about a possible high goal difference victory over the red team, especially that the match was organized in Milan Gale Muškatirović Swimming Pool.
In the first quarter we were self-confident, winning it to 3:4. Slobodan Soro finally came back home from Brazil and made miracles at the goal line. Subotić and Mandić made a fool of Šefik time after time. We even made it for the half-time, being on the lead to 4:6.
The third quarter is yet something to forget as quickly as possible. Nothing worked, the entire period was a desperate swimming between the two goal-lines struggling. It isn’t much of a comforting thought that the opponent also failed to take advantage of their chances, the quarter’s only goal was still scored by them soon before the end. Their goalkeeper picked himself together and their defense line formed a much stronger wall than in the first half.
The last quarter was a total nervous breakdown. Red team equalized, then they even took the lead (8:7). Their goalkeeper made impossible tricks while having a wide grin at Partizan-players who seemingly turned into more and more pale. Finally Jakšić got fed up and equalized 40 seconds before the end buzz.

The team’s best were Subotić, Mandić and Stojanović, all scored 2-2 goals.

VK Partizan - Primorje 7:11 (Champions League)

It's so great (NOT!) to find out in the last minutes of the 4th quarter that RTS 2 broadcasted the match despite all... At that point it didn't matter much anyway... There was one Primorje-goal that looked like a goal from only one angle, but the referees still validated it. There was a Partizan-goal, too, which seemed to be a real goal from every angle, but referees still invalidated it. There was also a penalty for the Croatian team, no one knows why that was given to them.
The hero of the day was Gavril Subotić, scoring 3 of Partizan’s 7 goals. Mandić, Gogov, Manojlović and Stojanović each scored a goal. Based on the review of zurnal.rs Partizan was fighting like a lion, doing their best (and even more) for victory, but Croatians were stronger than them.
You’re still our heroes.

VK Partizan - Galatasaray 10:7 (Champions League)

After the basketball game Average Fan quickly switches to RTS 2

"quickly switches", as if it was just a click with the remote control... in reality it was a desperate search for stream link

to see the waterpolo team being in trouble up to the hilt.

The atmosphere was unbelievable. Crowded house at the Banjica pool, singing and cheering fans with flags all over

But let's see what happened from the beginning.

It was one of those very rare moments when politicians (!) showed up at a Partizan (!!!) match. On the right, with blue shirt and glasses Nebojša Stefanović Serbian minister of home affairs, in grey sweatshirt Vanja Udovčić, former water polo player, now Serbia’s minister of youth and sports

The first quarter was great. Mandić scored a goal, that was the final result of the period as well. Then in the second one Turks decided to re-play the 1389 battle. They were leading to 3:4 in the half-time, and when the basketball match finished (and a working stream popped up, too) the standing was 3:5. Then immediately 3:6. We reduced the difference (4:6), but Turks quickly scored another (4:7).

Match action: Mandić in the heat of a fight

Slow and thorough drowning of a Partizan player in Turkish style

Vladimir Vujasinović

This was that moment when Average Fan starts to think of a nice, moving (and Turk-mocking) blogpost about a lost match, but I should have learned long ago that Partizan is famous for their great resurrections as well as for Parni valjak, the steam roller, when the team shakes themselves back to life bulldozing the opponent like a snow-plough cutting loose.
Stojanović started it. He came, he saw and tore Galatasaray’s net to pieces (5:7). Not much later arrived Gavril Subotić, and from then on our difference was only one goal. (6:7)
Then Mandić equalized with a fantastic shot (7:7).

We must definitely mention Dimitrije Rističević, too, who made wonders at this match, saving everything possible, and even some among the impossible as well.

Jakšić and Subotić blocking a Turkish attack

Gilen took us on the lead. Even RTS 2’s commentator was screaming from ecstasy (and the best was just about to come).

Mandić scored from penalty (9:7) and the coup d’etat was done by Subotić with the world’s perkiest troll goal.

Match highlights:

Then it was high time for a totally deserved celebration.

Finally, just for you, only here, only now, an 11-minute-long, massive ecstasy.

(Photos: Facebook/Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen)