FK Partizan - Borac 2:1 (superliga, round 23)

Dear everyone,
no beautifying, no cosmetics, no retouch, just the raw honesty: This. Was. One. Fucking. Goddamn. Great. Game.
It was exciting, it had a great pace and most of all, we played very well.
Fans hung this banner before the game supporting Everton after that racist incident. Svi smo mi, Evi - we are all Evi (Everton).

In the first half we controlled the game. Borac got stuck in their half playing bunker football. They crossed the half-line first time around the 13th minute. (But even that didn’t last long.) The first 20 minutes didn’t bring any considerable attempt, "only" very heavy Partizan-domination. Borac sometimes tried with a counter-attack, with no success. Practically all their players tried to make traffic around their penalty area for Partizan-players.
Not as if that would have helped.
In the 26th minute Vulićević crossed from the right. Kosović, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, arrived at the best time, shot and scored. GOAAALLLL! 1:0

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

Borac tried over and over again with counter-attacks, but they all died off, they didn’t even reach our penalty area. Meanwhile in the 32nd minute Janković had a great solo running up. He shot, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 34th minute we got a penalty kick. Someone among Borac’s players (probably Ignjatijević) pushed Janković down to the ground. The referee immediately whistled it off and pointed at the white spot. Leonardo stood behind the ball...

...and made it perfect. 2:0

Janković again tried with a shot in the 33rd minute, but again the goalkeeper saved it. A minute later after a huge fault of Borac’s defense line Leonardo grabbed the ball, but finally defenders could tackle him.
Borac’s first attempt to mention was in the 41st minute.  After a corner kick (this was Borac’s first corner kick...) Tiago shot, Kljajić saved, then right there Stefan Mihajlović had another shot, Kljajić saved this one as well.

Tawamba was active, if only he could score

In the second half Borac opened and attacked more, played braver, the game become much more open - another thing is that Partizan still controlled the game. There was a penalty-suspicious case in the 54th minute, again Janković was pushed to the ground, but the referee didn’t whistle it off.
In the 60th minute Leonardo dribbled through the penalty area, he shot, the defenders blocked, it ended with a corner-kick. Three minutes later Tawamba got a pass from Leonardo, he made a cannon shot, pity it was too high.
Borac got a penalty kick in the 65th minute. Janković kicked Tiago to the ground inside the penalty area. Stefan Mihajlović stood behind the ball, he scored, 2:1.

Two minutes later Tiago thought to push the limits. He shot, but it was too wide.
We got a free kick in the 73rd minute, about 17-18 metres from the box. Leonardo shot, the goalkeeper had a big save. Nemanja Mihajlović had a great solo in the 77th minute on the left side. He dribbled to the penalty area and passed to Janković, he shot, too high. A minute later again Neca ran up on the left, this time he himself shot, the goalkeeper saved.

Borac had only one attempt, Punoševac had a shot in the 84th minute, it was too high.

Svi kao jedan - All for one

There was a small celebration in the locker room. The team greeted Nebojša Kosović for his birthday -  Kosović scored himself a birthday gift goal, but after the match he got a cake from the Captain.

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade

Number of spectators: 2500

Official: Ilija Brdar (assistants: Svetozar Živin, Jovica Milin - 4th official: Róbert Kis-Csepegi)

FK Partizan: Kljajić, Vulićević, Milenković, Ostojić, Miletić, Kosović, Jevtović, Janković (S. Ilić, 89.), N. Mihajlović (Đuričkovć, 85.), Leonardo, Tawamba (Jovanović, 90.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Borac: Mišić, Ignjatijević, Marković, Drašković, Kostić (Zoćević, 67.), Marčić (Delić, 46.), Marinković, Tiago, S. Mihajlović, Jovanović (Punoševac, 76.), Živanović
Head coach: Mladen Dodić

Goal scorers: Kosović (26.), Leonardo (34. - pen.), S. Mihajlović (65. - pen.)

Yellow card: Marković (55.), Punoševac (90+2.)

Highlights:

League table will be brought tomorrow.

(unmarked photos: partizan.rs)

Radnički Niš - FK Partizan 1:0 (superliga, round 36 - play-off, round 6)

A photo leaked out soon before the game about the (alleged) new jersey of the football team for the 2016/17 season. It’s surely not official yet, as there’s no track of it at Partizan’s homepage, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you get the chance now.

(photo: sportskacentrala.com)

It’s rather minimalist in style, but all is clearly visible that is important.
Like the Nike-logo.

Is it just me with failing memory, or was it really Umbro mentioned earlier as Partizan’s official technical sponsor from next season?

But neither this minimalist Nike-jersey, nor the fact we stood up against Radnički with a reserved team can be an excuse for our terrible performance.

Our goalkeeper this time was young Marko Jovičić

Last group hug before kick-off

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

The first chance came in the 3rd minute after a corner kick. Lukić kicked it, the defenders wanted to clear it downfield, but the ball dropped to Bojinov. He shot, right onto the side net. He had another try in the 9th minute from the distance, about 25-30 metres, but it was so high that the ball almost flew out of the stadium.

We did not have a heavy start, to say the least.

In the 11th minute Radnički got a free kick about 40 metres from the box on the right side. Our defenders cleared the area, but the ball dropped back to the home team. Jovanović grabbed it, he shot, it was just a bit too high. In the 15th minute it was again their turn with a corner kick. This time Bulatović headed it towards the box, his attempt was also too high.
Then nothing happened for long... Our attempts - if we had any at all... - were blocked by Radnički-defenders. Both teams fumbled a lot, with almost no attempt or shoot on target.
Okay, there was one in the 20th minute. Marjanović sent a very weak shot to our box from the left, Jovičić easily caught it.
Other than this the one and only thing to mention was that it started to rain heavily around the 30th minute with strong wind. The noise of raindrops could be heard even through the stream.
Radnički attacked more. There was a period when we got stuck in our half. We could break out around the 33rd minute with a corner-kick, but we couldn’t squeeze an useful attempt out of it.
Then in the 40th minute Marjanović got a long pass on the left. He let the ball drop one in front of him on the wet grass, then he kicked it into the net. 1:0
There was one attempt left in the last minute of the first half. Đuričković had an Oxford trick then crossed the ball into the middle from left. Marjanović headed it towards the box, but it was too wide.

Grumpy, soaky wet Partizan-fans. Has anyone noticed that there were no Partizan-banners or flags on the stands? Radnički-fans had huge flags, banners, even pyrotechnics, but the guests’ tribune was bare

This was probably the only Partizan-relics on the tribunes

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

The second half was not better at all than the first. At the beginning the home team had a corner kick, Bandalovski cleared, but it was dangerous. Radnički used the tactics of full pitch press. They spent much more time on our half than we on theirs. Well, let’s make it clear, we had no useful attacks at all. Well, we didn’t have any attack at all. We could get to their penalty area in the 58th minute first, but Bandalovski was tackled. A minute later Radnički got a corner kick, but they kicked the ball on the side net.

Our passes were painfully imprecise. Boys, for God’s sake, please, practice these short, precise kicks, because this was a tragedy!...

In the 64th minute we had a cross to the goalmouth, but the goalkeeper easily caught it.
In the 68th minute we got a free kick about 40 metres from the goal line. Lukić kicked, the defenders headed it downfield. Bogosavac sent it back to the goalmouth, there Gogoua attempted, but the goalkeeper was faster.
In the 71st minute Golubović arrived on the right with the ball. He crossed it to the middle, but Vlahović had a very imprecise attempt, the chance was missed out.
In the 74th minute Radnički got a free kick. Mrkić barely missed the cross. (And thanks to his missed attempt the result was still 1:0.)

Gogoua almost made me cry several times. In one moment he was like a bastillon in the defense line. Then in the next he had such imprecise passes that were a physical pain to watch.

Radnički possessed the ball more and practically kept the game under control. They were combative and got into man-to-man clashes for the ball.

Though it wasn’t really necessary, as our performance was as indisposed as possible.

In the 83rd minute Radnički put our goalmouth under heavy pressure. Finally Apostolović shot, Jovičić saved.
Radnički got a free kick in the 85th  minute, almost at the half line. Marjanović wasted no time, he sent this almost 50-metre-long cannon shot to our box, but thankfully he kicked it into Jovičić’s lap instead.
Our first actual attempt in the second half was in the 87th (!!!) minute. Stevanović got a great pass and immediately crossed it to the middle. Vlahović missed it with just one step, the ball rolled through the goalmouth and eventually out of the field through the baseline.
In the 88th minute a throw-in by Radnički arrived from the left. A home player forwarded it to Đuričković. He headed it to the box, it was too high. Not much later Bulatović had an attempt, that was also too high. Then Radnički again made heavy pressure to our box. Jovanović dribbled, then Mrkić got the ball. He shot, the ball hit the goalpost, and in the meantime it was flag up for offside, the referee whistled it off.
We had one attempt at the very end. Stevanović’s shot was cleared downfield, then the ball dropped to Everton. The Brazilian performed the world’s most painful and probably most imprecise shot ever. (It was way too high, too.)

When a photo says more than 1000 words. Nebojša Kosović after the final whistle

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Čair stadium, Niš
Number of spectators: 4000
Referee: Milorad Mažić (assistants: Milovan Ristić, Dalibor Đurđević - 4th assistant: Nemanja Petrović - goal line assistants: Danilo Grujić, Nenad Đokić)

Radnički Niš: S. Jovanović - Petrović, R. Bulatović, Lakić-Pešić, D. Bulatović - Tomić, A. Jovanović - Đuričković, Apostolović (Todorović, 85.), Marjanović - Mrkić (Mitrović, 90.)
Head coach: Milan Rastavac

FK Partizan: Jovičić - Bandalovski - Gogoua, Milenković, Bogosavac - Lukić, Everton, Kosović - Golubovć, Bojinov (Vlahović, 64.), A. Stevanović
Head coach: Ivan Tomić

Goal scorer: Marjanović (40.)
Yellow card: Bojinov (50.), Lakić-Pešić (51.), Gogoua (86.)

Current standing of the play-off:
1. CZ 48 points
2. Partizan 37 points
3. Vojvodina 36 points
4. Čukarički 36 points
5. Radnički Niš 35 points
6. Borac 29 points
7. Surdulica 25 points
8. FK Voždovac 24 points

FK Partizan - FK Voždovac 3:0 (superliga, round 26)

We won!
It feels so strange to write it down after who knows how many lost matches.

By the way, prevention is better than cure, I made myself a big cup of coffee before the match not to end up like last time.

The stadium was suspended again. It was a punishment after the eternal derby, when the game had to be paused numerous times for the heavy smoke fans made with firecrackers and torches.

When will these get suspended?... Seriously, when that day comes, I’ll open a champagne

(photo: partizan.rs)

On the other hand, fuck them, just FUCK THEM ALL, together with their rotten double standards. When fans are not allowed to enter the stadium, why is this disgusting, fat, pig-faced, lousy worm is allowed with his 138 000 din + 4000 euro salary?...

The match started the oddest possible way. Voždovac attacked and Gogoua carelessly passed the ball back to Šaranov. Our goalkeeper also didn’t waste time on thinking, just grabbed the ball.
Well, it was a big mistake.
The referee whistled, free kick inside the penalty area.

Has nobody told this guy NEVER EVER TO TOUCH THE BALL WITH HANDS when it’s passed back to him, even if nuclear bombs are dropping form the sky?...

The entire Partizan lined up on the goal. Marinković shot, and even though he missed it out, he hit Stevanović so hard with the ball that the midfielder fell on the ground with a painful face. The guests had another attempt in the 5th minute, Ćirković ran up with the ball on the right side. Šaranov ran out of the goalmouth and had a great save.
In the 10th minute we got a free kick 30-35 metres from the goal line, in the middle. Jevtović shot, the goalkeeper saved. A minute later we got a corner kick. Mihajlović sent it in, Brašanac pushed it with his head - right into the box! 1:0!

(photos: hotsport.rs)

In the 15th minute, after a free kick

there were a lot of fouls, someone was always rolling on the ground from pain. It all made the game a bit fragmented

we possessed the ball. Mihajlović crossed it from the left to the middle, where Brašanac was waiting for it. He shot, the ball hit a defender and just barely missed the goal. It was very close to an own goal.
In the 22nd minute Stevanović arrived on the right side. He crossed to the middle, Saša Ilić got it. The Captain shot, the goalkeeper had a big save.
A miracle happened in the 25th minute.
We got a penalty kick.
Mihajlović was pushed to the ground by a defender inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed at the white spot. Stevanović stood behind the ball.
Here another miracle happened.
Stevanović scored.
Yes. Him. From penalty. 2:0!!!

(photos: hotsport.rs)

In the 31st minute again Stevanović crossed from the right to the middle. First Saša Ilić shot, but he was blocked by defenders. The ball dropped to Brašanac, he shot, too, but it was too wide. A minute later Jevtović had a try and shot from the distance, it was too high.
We continuously attacked, Voždovac was stuck in their half. They could break free and reach our penalty area in the 37th minute. Marinković crossed to Odita from the left, but Šaranov deactivated them in time.
Here the pace slowed down a bit. Finally Marinković had a sudden, distant shot in the 43rd minute. Šaranov saved. Then we had two attempts, first Brašanac sent a flat shot to the goal line (too wide), then Mihajlović kicked the ball towards the box from the distance (too high).
At the very end Šaranov still did everything to tear my nerves to pieces. He wanted to make a goal-kick, but instead of downfield he shot it right into Odita, who was standing there just two steps away from Partizan’s goalkeeper. The ball made a dangerous curve, finally it flew out of the field.
The second half started right with Gogoua’s last-moment-save from Odita. Then nothing happened until the 57th minute, when we got a corner-kick. Brašanac possessed the ball, standing right at the goalmouth. He shot, but instead of the box he hit the goalkeeper and the ball flew out above the crossbar. Corner-kick, Kosović headed it towards the goal, but the ball hit a defender, earning us another corner-kick.
In the 60th minute again Šaranov had his moment. A cross arrived from the left, Odita was there waiting for it to shoot it right into the net. Šaranov wanted to save, but instead of the ball he grabbed the air. For his (and our) great luck the ball rolled out of the baseline and the attempt ended in a corner-kick.
In the 64th minute Stevanović shot from the right side, but he was blocked by a defender. The ball dropped to Saša Ilić, he shot, too, the goalkeeper caught it.
Then came the 70th minute.
Then came Kosović.
He scored such a FANTASTIC goal, with such an amazing bicycle kick, that he MUST get the Puskás-award right now.
It was such a marvellous goal that even ArenaSport’s commentator said "bravo" afterwards.

(photos: hotsport.rs)

In the 83rd minute Voždovac got a free kick approx. 22 metres from the goal. Marinković shot, making a goalmouth scramble, then Stojanović attempted with a heading, but it was too wide.
Then in the 86th minute something happened with Šaranov - nobody knew what it could be, because everyone else was at the other side of the field around Voždovac’s penalty area. Partizan’s goalkeeper was waving to the medicals to come, because he needed attendance. The only info source says that he was "not well", then the doctor gave him something to take or eat (probably vitamines or dextrose) then the game continued.
For the very end we had one spectacular attack left, then Mihajlović got the pass. He shot, but it was too high.

40-minute-long highlights by SOS Kanal:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: -
Referee: Nenad Đokić (assistant: Vladimir Jovanović, Goran Stanojević - 4th assistant: Vladimir Šegrt - goal line assistants: Dejan Filipović, Dejan Dimitrijević)

FK Partizan: Šaranov - Bandalovski, Gogoua, Jovanović, Bogosavac - Brašanac, Jevtović, Kosović (Lukić, 71.) - Stevanović (Golubović, 82), S. Ilić (Bojinov, 75.), Mihajlović
Head coach: Ivan Tomić

FK Voždovac: Popović - Terzić, Mihajlov, Ivković, Puzigaća - Pavlović, Radin - Ćirković (Stojanović, 59.), Marinković (Damjanović, 84.), Krasić (Asani, 76.) - Odita
Head coach: Bratislav Živković

Goal scorers: Brašanac (11.), Stevanović (25. - pen.), Kosović (70.)
Yellow card: Marinković (12.), Kosović (17.), Terzić (55.), Ivković (70.)

League table will be brought tomorrow.
Update: current championship standings*
1. CZ 71 points
2. Borac 43 points
3. Partizan 42 points
4. Čukarički 41 points
5. Radnički Niš 41 points
6. Vojvodina 39 points
7. FK Voždovac 36 points
8. Surdulica 34 points
9. Javor 31 points
10. Mladost 31 points
11. Metalac 28 points
12. Novi Pazar 28 points
13. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 23 points
14. OFK Beograd 23 points
15. Jagodina 22 points
16. Rad 21 points

*Novi Pazar - cz and Mladost - Čukarički are postponed

New player in the football team

Partizan has signed a 4-year contract with 20-year-old Nebojša Kosović.

Kosović was the player of Vojvodina, then went to play for Standard Liége. Then the Belgians put him on loan to Hungarian team Újpest

poor boy

and from there he came to Belgrade. He is the member of the youth national team of Montenegro as well.

At Partizan he'll wear the No. 27 jersey.

You came to the best possible place, boy. Welcome home! Dobrodošao kući!

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)