Rad - FK Partizan 0:1 (superliga, round 22)

It was supposed to be a great day, the football season started after a long winter break, but the joy was destroyed.

First it was painful and sad to see Nikola Drinčić wearing the jersey of Rad. His team is Partizan. Period.
The second one comes later.

Drinčić (16) greets Ostojić after the game

The beginning of the match brought a combative, enjoyable football. Partizan was the brave one, we attacked first - in the 4th minute Miletić crossed from the left, Leonardo pushed it ahead, Đurđević shot, it was too wide. Rad had their first attempt in the 11th minute, which ended with a corner kick. After a big goalmouth scramble our defenders kicked the ball downfield.
The two opponents carefully tried each other, the first really dangerous attempt was in the 13th minute. Rad attacked, the ball dropped to Miletić, who, for some reason (Partizan’s penalty area was abounded with Rad-players) decided to head the ball home. Lukovac was around, he grabbed the dropping ball - and shot it right into Kljajić.
The pace of the game slowed down. Partizan possessed the ball, but we kept on passing it backwards, not as if Rad had any useful idea what to do. Though in the 33rd minute Maraš, a defender of Rad almost scored an own goal - he pushed a Partizan-cross with the head, but he made it in such a twisted way that he almost forwarded it to his own box. Goalkeeper Filipović could touch the ball, but it was merely Rad’s luck that they survived it without an epic fail. Three minutes later Drinčić passed to Radojević, who ran up, shot but it was too high.
The pace of the game definitely slowed down. Partizan kept on passing the ball backwards, Rad didn’t mind it. One minute before the end of the first half Stevanović had one distant shot, but it was just a routine jump for the goalkeeper.

Drinčić and Jevtović

Partizan geared it up in the second half. In the meantime it started to snow in Belgrade, but it didn’t keep Milenković back from making a shoot on target. Nor Leonardo or Stevanović. And then came Uroš Đurđević and decided to take the reins. 55th minute, corner kick for Partizan. Janković made the kick, great goalmouth scramble, the ball dropped to Đurđević, who was standing at the lower right corner of the penalty area. He shot, the ball rolled and dropped through the area among the defenders and landed in the box. 0:1

It was a wake-up call for both teams. In the 59th minute Denić shot from 20 metres, but it was way too wide.
Meanwhile Rad-fans started their own little show. They had a banner with the names of those Partizan-players who used to play for Rad (Đurđević, Kljajić, Mihajlović, Ćirković) and made it clear that for them these players mentioned above are "Rad B".

FYI, idiots: this "Rad B" kicked the shit out of you today.

Partizan-fans had their quick response though, within minutes they were chanting "cigani, cigani".
In the 65th minute Mihajlović had a distant (and too high) shot. Then in the 75th minute Drinčić had a shoot on target after a free kick. Kljajić had a great save (other sources say Drinčić hit the goalpost). Immediate counter-attack by Partizan, Leonardo possessed the ball and sent a long pass to Đurđević. Đurđević ran up, leaving everyone behind him (only one defender was running a few steps behind him), even the goalkeeper ran out of the goalmouth. Đurđević dribbled the goalkeeper and ran ahead all alone towards the empty box. He shot - and hit the goalpost.
In the last 10-15 minutes Rad pressured hard and attacked a lot, they wanted to equalize. They couldn’t.
After the final whistle hell broke loose. Rad-fans had racist insults towards Everton from the beginning of the second half. When the match ended, Everton ran to the tribune with all those from United Force and made them clear what he thinks of them and what they should do with themselves.

Honestly? I have no idea what I would have done if I were Everton. Maybe I would have also told the whole tribune to fuck themselves.
Other than this, those racist Rad-fan idiots can really fuck themselves.

And after all these the referee gave Everton a yellow card, but the toughest was still left. Four Rad-players - Ćulum, Denić, Ljubinković and Maraš - attacked Everton and started to fight with him. It ended in a scuffle, the bench of both teams joined as well, finally the gendarmerie had to redd the two teams. Everton left the pitch in tears.

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Stadium Kralj Petar I, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 2000
Official: Srđan Jovanović (assistants: Uroš Stojković, Dragan Bogićević - 4th official: Marko Popović)

Rad: Filipović - Ljubinković, Maraš, Pajović, Radivojević - Drinčić, Ćulum (Dimitrijević, 60.) - Lutovac, Denić, Rodić (Petković, 72.) - Đenić (Milošev, 60.)
Head coach: Nebojša Petrović

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Vulićević, Milenković, Ostojić, Miletić - Janković (Mihajlović, 61.), Everton, Jevtović, Stevanović (S. Ilić, 85.) - Đurđević, Leonardo (Tawamba, 89.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Goal scorer: Đurđević (55.)
Yellow cards: Ostojić (20.), Milenković (57.), Pajović (68.), Maraš (81.), Đurđević (89.), Everton (90.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 57 points
2. Partizan 51 points
3. Vojvodina 48 points
4. Mladost 37 points
5. Napredak 36 points
6. Javor 32 points
7. Radnički Niš 30 points
8. Spartak 30 points
9. FK Voždovac 28 points
10. Rad 24 points
11. Čukarički 23 points
12. Metalac 22 points*
13. Radnik 20 points*
14. OFK Bačka 18 points
15. Borac 18 points
16. Novi Pazar 12 points

*The game between Metalac and Radnik was postponed due to weather conditions.

(photos: partizan.rs)

FK Partizan - Novi Pazar 4:0 (superliga, round 15)

Did you know that His Majesty Lord Fat Pig I. (alias Miloš Vazura) and The Former Politician Who Used To Be The Bestie Of Milošević (aka Milorad Vučelić) and co. are served by a waiter in the VIP-section?
You didn’t know?
Now you know.

A waiter. For fuck’s sake. A WAITER

While in a silent corner of the eastern tribune there was someone sitting there all alone...

Yes, it’s him. Nikola Drinčić, humbly, by himself

(photo: Facebook/Bianconeri di Belgrado)

Some rumour about Škuletić being there as well, if I find any photo about that, I’ll upload, of course.

Talking about the game, we attacked right in the first minute, Stevanović crossed, but nobody was fast enough to catch it. The reply came in the 3rd minute through Čečarić and his attempt, Kljajić caught it. Two minutes later he (Kljajić) had great luck, when he made a goal-kick, and the ball dropped to a Novi Pazar-player (Dimitrijević). Dimitrijević ran up, shot, Kljajić ran back to the goalmouth and could catch the ball just before the goal line.
Novi Pazar had a strong start, then Đurđević shot the ball into the goalkeeper in the 9th minute. Marjanović did the same in the 17th. In the 24th Stevanović crossed from the left, Đurđević was too slow, the goalkeeper caught it.
We took the lead in the 26th minute. Marjanović passed to Stevanović. Stevanović ran up, dribbled inside the penalty area, then passed to Bojinov, who was (again) slow like a sloth. But not Janković. He appeared out of the blue behind the Bulgarian and shot the ball right into the box. 1:0

27th minute, corner-kick for Partizan. Guess whose head flew the ball above with just two millimetres?
a) Bojinov
b) the Sloth
c) the Bulgarian, who is proven to be too small
In the 30th minute Alivodić had a try, too wide. Afterwards a very thick smoke covered the pitch, too thick to be able to see anything. Even the commentator was just guessing whether the fouling Novi Pazar player got a yellow card or not, because nothing could be seen, maybe only silhouettes.
The next goal was a fail by Novi Pazar. Goalkeeper Zogović surely regretted in that moment to end up at the goal line instead of being e.g. a rope-dancer. Stevanović ran up, passed to Miletić, Miletić passed it back to Stevanović. Stevanović shot, it was a powerful one, the goalkeeper saved, but the ball dropped out of his hands and slowly rolled into the box. 2:0

Discreet happiness

In the 41st minute Janković shot with a fantastic bicycle-kick. Pity it was too wide, had he scored, he could have stood in line for the Puskás-award.

By the way, this was the southern tribune. What a crowd, isn’t it? Oh, wait...
Well, what did we expect, only 2500 spectators were present officially.

At the beginning of the second half Marjanović crossed the ball from the right, Bojinov was too slow again, missing it with just half a centimetre.

Bojinov was his own shadow at this game. I don’t even remember when was the last time he had so many screwed-up situations. He was always too slow to reach passes and crosses, he shot the ball into the opponent players, kicked into the ball just to make it roll out through the line and so on. Sometimes I had the feeling he was doing it on purpose. This kind of fooling around may do on a gala match, but it’s just fucking no funny on a championship game.

In the 54th minute Janković got a pass. He ran up, dribbled a defender and shot, it ended with a corner-kick.
It was still the 54th minute, we scored our 3rd goal. I have never seen such a comedy so far (It wasn’t the funny type, rather the pathetic one.)
Marjanović arrived on the right and crossed the ball to the other side, where Bojinov and Đurđević were both waiting.

Both of them attempted, making this weid, ballet-alike scene...

...nevertheless the ball dropped to the box, Bojinov ran out to the tribune to celebrate himself...

...the only problem was that the slow motion replay showed Uroš Đurđević scoring the goal, from every possible angle.

It wasn’t you, dude

The stadium speaker nevertheless mentioned Bojinov as the goal scorer, while the official match report named Đurđević. Meanwhile ArenaSport’s commentator couldn’t find his breath from laugh over this situation.

Oh well. A goal is always a goal and it must be celebrated

It made me laugh though when the commentator mentioned the goal scorers. He said, "first goal, Janković, second goal, Stevanović... then, well for me it’s Đurđević here, for Bojinov... it’s Bojinov".

In the 57th minute Đurđević got a pass (probably from Miletić), he shot, right into the goalkeeper.
Novi Pazar’s first and only attempt in the second half was in the 82th minute. Đoković shot from the right, Kljajić saved, corner-kick.

It made me raise my eyebrows to see Everton kicking everyone to the ground who just approaches him - he does not do it this often with the ball though... - but when he gets a kick, he collapses, rolls up and down on the field and plays the dying swan. Someone should tell him that he should focus on actual playing instead of being a pussy, because sometimes I can count on one hand how often he touches the ball during a match.

Đuričković’s score in the 84th minute settled the final result. It was a smooth thing, the ball dropped to the midfielder, he sent a cannon shot from 18 metres and scored. 4:0

A minute later Micevski tried the same trick on the other side, just he shot from 30 metres and it was too high. Alivodić had an attempt, too, trying to score one just for the honour, but Kljajić saved. Then in the 89th minute Ostojić headed the ball to the box, but it was too wide. The last attempt was in the extra time, Janković had a distant shot, but this too was too wide.

Saša Ilić. He didn’t play a minute, still he got a loud applause

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 2500
Official: Nenad Đokić (assistants: Vladimir Jovanović, Slobodan Pavlović - 4th assistant: Marko Popović)

FK Partizan: Kljajić, Vulićević, Milenković, Ostojić, Miletić, Everton, Marjanović, A. Stevanović (Đuričković, 79.), Janković, Đurđević (Đurđić, 72.), Bojinov (Mihajlović, 70.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Novi Pazar: Zogović, Stanojević, Alivodić, Travanović (Đoković, 41.), Čečarić, Brunčević (Kačar, 59.), Pajović, Dimitrijević, Rajabov (Lepović, 65.), Svojić, Micevski
Head coach: Zoran Govedarica

Goal scorers: Janković (26.), A. Stevanović (37.), Đurđević (54.), Đuričković (84.)
Yellow card: Čečarić (69.), Đoković (77.), Milenković (78.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 38 points
2. Partizan 32 points
3. Vojvodina 32 points
4. Napredak 31 points
5. Radnički Niš 27 points
6. Mladost 25 points
7. Spartak Subotica 22 points
8. Rad 19 points
9. Metalac 17 points
10. Javor 17 points
11. Radnik 15 points
12. FK Voždovac 14 points
13. Čukarički 13 points
14. Novi Pazar 12 points
15. OFK Bačka 11 points
16. Borac 8 points

(unmarked photos: partizan.rs)

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

Seriously.
It was senseless to start this spring season.
The entire winter comedy was senseless, with the scandal around Andrija Živković, with the struggles of the transfer season and the "should he stay or should he go" soap opera. The entire team should have been thrown out to the street and put it all back to amateur level.
Based on what we could see today it’s not worth more.
The starting eleven was full of newbies and youngsters, e.g. Birmančević, who will turn 18 in March.

(photo: partizan.rs)

For (my) great surprise Ivan Petrović was also there - that Ivan Petrović, who had been kicked out of the team earlier. It seems, the management could somehow convince him to come back.

(photo: partizan.rs)

 The team arrives at the field

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The match started with a minute-long silence for the memory of Slobodan Santrač, Partizan’s and OFK’s former class player, who passed away recently.

(photo: partizan.rs)

I could come up with this tasteless joke that this minute of silence could have gone for Partizan in general as well, but now I’m fucking not in the mood to be funny.

At the stand there was someone, too, whom we haven’t seen long ago - but whom many of us would like to see wearing Partizan’s jersey again

(photo: Twitter)

We had our first attack(-alike action) in the 2nd minute. Mihajlović got a pass on the left side. He was tackled by OFK-defenders, but we still possessed the ball. There was a big fight on the left side, finally OFK could clear the area. Two minutes they got a free kick about 30-35 metres from our goal. Vulićević pushed his head up to stop the ball, finally we could somehow kick the ball out downfield.

Partizan’s right side was desperately empty. Well, yes. We missed a lot Andrija Živković.

In the 9th minute OFK led an attack on the right side. They crossed the ball to the middle, it was dangerous, finally someone (maybe Birmančević?) headed it out.
In the 12th minute Andrić (if I’m not wrong) got a pass on the right side. He shot, Kljajić saved.
The first 15 minutes brought a spiritful, fast game. Both teams ran a lot, the game was going mostly on the midfield.
In the 16th minute we got a free kick about 25 metres from the goal line. Defenders headed out the ball. A minute later we got another free kick, now on the right side, almost at the sideline. Defenders again headed it out.
In the 21st minute we were attacking from the left, but the goalkeeper saved.
Then in the 22nd minute Brašanac got a pass on the left. He dribbled himself into the middle, then ruthlessly shot and scored. 0:1

(photos: hotsport.rs)

The truth is, the impress of the game didn’t change much after the goal. Partizan looked a tad bit of more self-confident, while OFK was a bit cramped.
In the 30th minute we got a free kick on the right side, again almost at the sideline. Defenders headed it out, but we still possessed the ball. Finally Fofana got it, he headed it to the goal, making a big upheaval in the goalmouth. Then someone (maybe Jovanović) pressed the ball into the net, but the referee whistled it off and invalidated the goal, because the goalkeeper was under attack.
OFK immediately started a counter-attack. A cross came from the right, Kljajić caught it.
In the 32nd minute Bogosavac was rudely kicked to the ground. Free kick, 25 metres from the goal. The goalkeeper punched it out, OFK ran up for a counter-attack. Partizan used the tactics of full court press, and it was successful, the attack died away.
In the 35th minute Kljajić caught a 30-metre free kick, then in the 40th he tore my nerves to pieces. OFK sent a big pass ahead, but Kljajić was somewhere outside the penalty area. When he saw the pass coming, he desperately ran back to the goalmouth, just the problem was that OFK’s attacker was a few steps ahead of him. Finally, for our great luck Jovanović (who stayed inside the penalty area) kicked the ball downfield.
Other than this nothing else really happened for the rest of the first half. Any time we tried with an attack, OFK defenders blocked us.

However much it hurts, Fofana was practically invisible at this game. Either he is (still) not in shape or OFK had an especially good defense line - or both - nevertheless Fofana’s performance of today was not estimable.

Bogosavac some time during the game

(photo: partizan.rs)

In the second half, around the 50th minute Mihajlović got a fantastic pass from Fofana on the left side. He immediately ran up and sent a cross to the middle, the goalkeeper caught it.

Nemanja Mihajlović is the only one who had a performance worth to mention today

(photo: partizan.rs)

In the 52th minute Kljajić punched out an OFK-corner. The ball dropped to Pejović, he immediately shot, it was too high.
In the 58th minute Andrić sent a great shot to Jovović, almost from the half-line. Jovović ran up, leaving our defenders behind, Kljajić was all alone, Jovović shot with a classic movement and scored. 1:1
Barely 6 minutes passed when OFK took the lead.
An attack arrived from the left, Stevanović headed it out. The ball dropped to Pavlovski and he shot right there, from 17 metres. The cannon shot fell into the middle of our net. 2:1
That’s all, folks.
The 70th minute brought the debut of Dušan Vlahović in the senior team. Vlahović just turned 16 a few weeks ago. He came as a substitute for Fofana.

(photo: partizan.rs)

In the 72nd minute Avramovski ran up on the right side. The defender couldn’t tackle him, Avramovski shot - for our luck the ball hit the goalpost.
In the 76th minute Mihajlović got a pass. He ran up, dribbled among the defenders

it was so great to see these tricks

then he shot from 3 metres - it was too high. A minute later Saša Ilić crossed from the left. Vulićević arrived, shot, it was too high.

Right before this scene the ball flew out among the spectators. It came to my mind, what if fans would have told, they wouldn’t give back the ball, only when, let’s say, Vazura rolls into a load of hot pitch, then into white feathers. Or, maybe Andrija Živković must immediately join the game as a right winger, and from now on Iliev is allowed to function only as a paperweight in the stadium offices. Or something like that.

Only 10 minutes were left. OFK was playing for time every possible way. Their players stayed on the field with painful face after every clash. Their goalkeeper even got a yellow card for playing for time. As for us, we were out of ideas. Even if we had attacks, OFK-defenders easily blocked them. Around the 90th minute Planić got his second yellow card, the referee sent him off the field. Partizan-fans loudly demanded the beheading of the management ("Uprava napolje"), an angry fan threw a firecracker on the ground. In the last minute everyone was nervous, Partizan-players for the defeat and shame, while OFK could hardly wait for the final whistle. One of their players almost started a fight with the referee, his teammates pulled him away. In the very last minute we got a last free kick about 28 metres from the goal, but Mihajlović almost kicked it out of the stadium.

Sadness and shame

Saša Ilić’s expression tells more than 1000 words

Ivan Tomić is not happy

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Goals:

Facts:

Venue: Obilić stadium, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 2000
Referee: Dejan Filipović (assistant: Uroš Stojković, Vukan Gordić - 4th assistant: Bojan Stanojević - goal line assistants: Milan Jeremić, Nemanja Petković)

OFK Beograd: Čupić - Stojković, Planić, Liščević, Martinović - Vukobratović, Pejović - Belaković (Pavlovski, 53.), Avramovski, Jovović (Duronjić, 89.) - Andrić (Cuckić, 69.)
Head coach: Dragan Radojičić

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Vulićević, M. Stevanović, Jovanović, Bogosavac - Brašanac, I. Petrović, S. Ilić - Birmančević, Fofana, Mihajlović
Head coach: Ivan Tomić

Goal scorers: Brašanac (22.), Jovović (58.), Pavlovski (64.)
Yellow cards: I. Petrović (3.), Martinović (23.), Planić (34.), S. Ilić (41.), Avramovski (53.), Čupić (87.), Vukobratović (90+3.)
Red card: Planić (89.) - second yellow card

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 65 points
2. Borac 40 points
3. Čukarički 38 points
4. Partizan 36 points
5. Vojvodina 36 points
6. Radnički Niš 35 points
7. FK Voždovac 32 points
8. Mladost 31 points
9. Javor 30 points
10. Surdulica 27 points
11. Metalac 25 points
12. Novi Pazar 24 points
13. OFK Beograd 22 points
14. Rad 19 points
15. Jagodina 19 points
16. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 16 points

Marko Jevtović is Partizan’s new player

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder comes from Novi Pazar and signed a 4-year-long contract with Partizan. His jersey number will be 21.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Meanwhile Nikola Drinčić sends hugs and kisses to everyone from Israel.

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

Nikola Drinčić - sold out, now for sure, once and for all

It has been long since this sold-not sold game is running around Nikola Drinčić. He was about to be sold to Israel last summer, but then the transfer was cancelled. Now he is sold, absolutely sure, to Maccabi Haifa. The Israeli team confirmed the transfer on their homepage (only this Hebrew version is available). As always, nobody said a word about the transfer amount of how much Drinčić was sold for

where is privatisation and/or transparency?...

rumours mention 300 000 euros.

Isn’t that a too small price for such a top gun?...

Well, what can one say now?...
Thank you, Maestro, without you nothing would have happened, we would not be where we are now, we’d be standing here with no championship title either. You’ll leave a big, empty space behind you in the team and it will be painful, especially now, before the Champions League qualifyings. Well, we hope you won’t forget about us.

Serbian Cup final: Čukarički - FK Partizan 1:0

It was painful. No matter how we try to minimize it or try to pretend that we are totally content winning only the championship title. It is not actually our ambition that got the most painful slap in the face

still it would have been so great to win the Cup and put it to the Trophy Room next to the championship title trophy. Dupla kruna, as Serbian fans say, double crown

because every defeat is painful, especially the one we get in the final. But I would keep my mouth shut, if we had been defeated in a fair and good match from a brave and skilled opponent.
But the match was terrible, the referee was beneath criticism, the opponent played everything but fair play beside constantly kicking Partizan players. Additionally we played wrong and disorganised, some parts of tactics made my jaw drop on the floor. (Not definitely by admiration.)
What is especially painful that

with this I might gain some new enemies, but I will still speak it out, it must be spoken out

some Partizan-players played simply horrible. Among them the most prominent was Stefan Babović, who demonstrated anti-football the way he "played" last night.

With this I do NOT want to put the blame on Babović for this defeat. He was just the whipped cream on the top of the cake that was rubbed into our face yesterday.

It was by default a smash on the head for us to put this match to Rajko Mitić stadium. I get that we were the guest team anyway, but I do not want to believe there is no neutral stadium in this city of more than one and a half million inhabitants where a Serbian Cup final could have been placed and played.

I seriously don’t want to get into politics, but what if instead of this surrealistic, off-the-ground Belgrade On Water thing we would invest into such a sports building?

Oh well. We came to win and not to whine. But first, we sing the national anthem.

Grbić: LOL, Babinjo, how beautifully you sing!...

(Babinjo is proud)

Drinčić: He is our singing nightingale...

Brašanac (to himself): Don’t laugh... don’t laugh...

In the 3rd minute Grbić ran up with the ball and passed it to the middle. The only problem was that nobody was there in the goalmouth. Nevertheless Čukarički-defenders thanked this ball-gift. A minute later Čukarički got a free kick, about 30 metres from our goal. Matić kicked, someone in the penalty area crowd pushed it with the head, Živko Živković saved with a box movement.

Two minutes later Čukarički got another free kick. Again Matić kicked, again from 30 metres, now it ended in a corner, Balažic headed it out.
The first 10-15 minutes brought a heavy fight, which is absolutely understandable. Yet there was a lot of brutality, many rough tackles, but it also happened that Andrija Živković was violently kicked to the ground in the 10th minute.
Anyway, a minute later Andrija Živković made a fantastic sprint for the ball, dribbled and passed it to Babović in the middle.

The assistant waved offside

when was that offside?!...

and the truth is, in the meantime Babović was fumbling so much that it would have never ended in a goal, not even if the assistant had eaten his flag.
On the southern tribune referee Glođović and his judging sytle was a serious issue (with other words, Grave Diggers threw violent curses towards the referee, mentioning his family tree heavily). Glođović got angry, whistled, waved to a gentleman with a tie standing at the side of the playing field and not much later the speaker said, if Partizan fans didn’t stop cursing the referee, they would have to leave the stadium.

Nice job, Glođović. I hope, your mum is proud of you.

Fans had a great time.

In the 14th minute Slavoljub Srnić kicked the ball in from the right, Živko Živković saved. Two minutes later again Čukarički had an attempt. Stojiljković got the ball from the right and shot. The ball hit the goalpost. Čukarički still possessed the ball, but they fumbled so long that finally Partizan-defenders cleared the area. A minute later Matić shot from 18 metres, Živko Živković caught the ball. As an answer Volkov ran up with the ball in the 18th minute and passed to Andrija Živković in the middle. He shot, but God knows where the ball flew... In the 23rd minute we got a corner kick. Branko Ilić headed it to the goal, but missed.
Meanwhile it started to rain, the pace slowed down as well. There was still a lot of fight with even more violence, but with a very few actual goal attempts. In the 32nd minute Volkov passed the ball to the middle, where Babović was waiting for it. He was tackled, the attempt ended in a corner. Two minutes later Babović shot from the middle, from 18 metres, but the goalkeeper saved it.
Then in the 38th minute Slavoljub Srnić got the ball. He ran up, dribbled around all Partizan defenders and shot, right into our net. Unbelievable. 1:0
There was one trying left for Partizan in the 43rd minute, but the player (I couldn’t see clearly which one) was pushed down to the ground inside the penalty area. The referee didn’t whistle penalty, of course.
Then we could go back to the locker room to dry a bit the totally wet jerseys.
In the second half we tried to speed up, but it actually resulted a chaotic rushing around. In the 49th minute Drinčić shot from the distance, but it was too wide. Two minutes later we got a free kick, 25 metres from the goal line. Drinčić stood behind the ball, shot, too wide. Three miutes later the very same scene could be seen (free kick, Drinčić, too wide), then Čukarički ran up for a counter-attack. Slavoljub Srnić had a dangerous pass to the middle, thankfully Bandalovski cleared the area.
In the 61st minute Živko Živković had a life-saving action by saving Stojiljković’s bicycle kick.

My gosh, had he scored from this kick, that would have been the ultimate humiliation for us.

A minute later Čukarički missed from a corner, in exchange they kicked Volkov to the ground. Partizan’s defender had a very painful face while laying on the grass. Then something broke in Bojan Ostojić, because he brutally pushed down Babović, then he kicked Grbić on the head with the ball after whistle. (And after all this he was mad to receive a yellow card.)
Then my net connection broke and it wasn’t funny either. The data transmission was on level zero for about 5 minutes, the stream came back to life around the 70th minute. Upon the official match report I missed out an attempt by Grbić’s and Brašanac’s united forces.
Yet the re-starting stream welcomed me with a unique sight.

(photo: Twitter)

I swear watching them was much more joyful than the struggling team on the grass. We started to get more and more desperate and nervous. In the 78th minute Čukarički’s goalkeeper pushed Kojić to the ground, of course we did NOT get a penalty, and the slow motion replay didn’t show clearly when Stevanović touched the ball. In the 80th minute Babović got the ball, but he was fumbling so long that eventually he lost the ball and it all ended in a counter-attack. (His great luck was that Čukarički missed it out.)

It wasn’t the first time Babović fumbled too long and the entire attempt got wasted. It happened earlier on matches that he had a giant, once-in-a-lifetime chance, all doors and windows were open, but he eventually lost the ball. I will be honest again, risking again to get new enemies, but let me ask: if that’s all what he can do, then why is he in the starting eleven? Why can he wear the captain’s armband? A really strict trainer would allow him only to keep the bench warm, but maybe after this - or after what he did at the eternal derby, or rather, what he didn’t do - he would be exiled to the substitute team. You can call me overly critical, but for God’s sake, wearing Partizan’s jersey means a certain kind of responsibility. Also, there are so many extremely talented young player who struggle to get to the senior team for this reason, even if they would give an entire arm to be able to get a chance, even if just as a substitute.

Vulićević couldn’t do much for the team either

The atmosphere on the field was heated. Partizan was stressed, it was visible on our hasty playing style. In the 84th minute Andrija Živković was again brutally, terribly kicked to the ground by Brežančić. Čukarički’s player didn’t just kick Partizan’s midfielder on his leg, but stomped on his feet as well. Živković fell on the ground screaming and laid there in pain for long, medical attendance arrived in a rush.

Brežančić got nothing. Not even a yellow card or maybe a red one. I’m sure two referees out of three would have rubbed a yellow card under his nose for this, plus Brežančić has already had a yellow card, for molesting Andrija Živković in the beginning of the match. But referee Glođović thought for some unknown reason that this tackle from Brežančić, that almost ended in a broken bone is still within the boundaries of fair play. At least we got a free kick that ended in a Čukarički counter-attack. And here again something happened, because Average Fan saw Drinčić yelling at Slavoljub Srnić, almost tearing off the head of the Čukarički-player. Only teammates’ united forces could keep him back from the (most probably legitimate) vendetta.

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

Those who know Nikola Drinčić, they know he is a withdrawn player, barely speaking a word, even when asked he replies with two simple sentences. On the field he focuses only on the game itself. I’m sure Srnić said something very boorish and vulgar to Drinčić, if the fuse has blown this much for Partizan’s player.

And after all these Glođović gave a yellow card - to Drinčić.

Send Glođović to a quarry RIGHT NOW, to at least 10 years of hard labour for this match.

The fierce battle didn’t calm down, the only problem was that Čukarički was playing more and more confident, while Partizan was more and more nervous. In the 87th minute again Slavoljub Srnić shot from 17 metres, too wide.
In the 90+1st minute Brašanac got a great pass from Andrija Živković. He headed it to the goal line, but missed. In the 90+2nd minute we got a free kick, 25 metres from the goal line. That was our last chance. Drinčić kicked it to the penalty area. The ball got to Babović and he wanted to shoot it to the net with a bicycle kick. He missed.
That was it. Final whistle.

Medal ceremony.

Ninković: Okay. Now I close my eyes. When I open it, I want to be in ul. Humska again and it all was just a bad dream...

I think it was Saša Ilić who said after the match with great self-criticism: this performance the team had during the cup final will not be enough for the Champions League.
And he is absolutely right.

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Rajko Mitić stadium, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 10 000
Referee: Vlado Glođović (assistants: Dejan Petrović, Nemanja Petrović - 4th assistant: Milan Minić - goal line assistants: Dejan Filipović, Bojan Nikolić)

FK Čukarički: Stevanović, D. Srnić, Stojiljković, Matić, S. Srnić (Mandić, 90.), Regan (Todorović, 64.), Stojković, Ostojić, Bojić, Brežančić, Rendulić
Head coach: Vladan Milojević

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković, Bandalovski, Volkov (Vulićević, 67.), Balažic, B. Ilić, Drinčić, Babović, Brašanac, A. Živković, Grbić (Ninković, 69.), S. Ilić (Kojić, 59.)
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorer: S. Srnić (39.)
Yellow cards: Brežančić (9.), Balažic (29.), S. Srnić (58.), Ostojić (63.), Stevanović (67.), Matić (84.), Ninković (82.), Drinčić (85.)

(Unmarked photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Napredak - FK Partizan 0:2 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 28)

We won!!!!
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!
Independent of the results of the two rounds that are still left, we won the 2014/15 season.
There was an amazing atmosphere in Kruševac even before the match. Grave Diggers made it clear, they had come there to celebrate the championship title.
Residents of the neighbouring houses came out to the balconies to watch the game.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

On the other side Napredak was facing the game from the 13th position of the league table. They needed every single point to avoid even just the possibility of being dropped out of the SuperLiga. Knowing this they attacked Partizan very heavily right from the kick-off. Every player of Kruševac had someone from Partizan to thrust himself upon the other’s back, hanging on him for the whole time, not letting him even to take breath. They used pressing tactics, they ran a lot, fought a lot, they got into almost combat fighting for the ball. Yet Partizan also had to win to make sure the championship title will be theirs.
The pace was fast with lots of battles, which was no wonder knowing all these facts above. The game was going on mostly on the midfield, none of the teams could make it easily to the goalmouth or even to the penalty area. In the 11th minute Napredak got a free kick 30 metres from our goal line, but Živko Živković easily caught it. We were about to run up for a counter-attack, but Andrija Živković was tackled by a defender somewhere halfway.
Two minutes later Babović’s pass arrived from the left to Šaponjić, but Frimpong headed the ball out before the stiker could grab it. In the 14th minute Andrija Živković dribbled through the right side and shot from 18 metres, but it was too high.
Another two minutes later a great chance was missed out by Napredak

but not the heart attack by me

defender Gobeljić ran up with the ball on the right and passed it to Trujić in the middle. Partizan defenders got stuck behind, for our luck Trujić shot it too high from the goalmouth.
The battle was going on, it was more or less even. In the 29th minute N’diaye tried from a sharp angle on the left, but Živko Živković easily caught it.
In the 31st minute Bandalovski gave a great pass to Šaponjić from the right, but Napredak’s goalkeeper threw himself in the way. A minute later Andrija Živković got the ball and ran up immediately, passing the ball to Šaponjić. Napredak defenders quickly ran there and tackled Partizan’s striker.
In the 34th minute came a Napredak free kick from about 40 metres, almost at the right line. (The sun was shining right into the eyes of Partizan-players.) The ball came in, N’diaye headed it, but missed.
In the 42nd minute Bandalovski was pulled to the ground inside the penalty area of Napredak. The referee didn’t whistle for penalty, even if it was clearly a foul. Hell broke loose, everyone was screaming and yelling, fans shouted vulgar and sarcastic chants about the referee and his family tree. The referee got angry and paused the game. After a short wrangling the match could continue and we could finish the first half.
The second half started with a delay. The goalkeeper of the home team, Janković arrived at the field being late with at least 10 minutes. Then we could start, with the life-saving clearing of Bandalovski right after the kick-off. He shot the ball out of the field in the middle of a dangerous attack, being just one step ahead than the attacker. In the 49th minute again the home team had a chance. Stanojević passed to Dimitrov, who was standing at our penalty area. He shot the ball to our goal line after a few dribbles, but it was too high.
It started to be a bit uncomfortable. Napredak wanted to score by all means, while we had to prevent it by all cost, at the same time we had to score at least one goal at all hazards. Despite this in the 59th minute Urošević tackled Andrija Živković and shot to our goal, but missed.
In the 62nd minute we got a free kick, about 40 metres from the goal line. Drinčić stood behind the ball.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

We all know what it means when Drinčić stands behind the ball.
It means only one thing. A bomb shot, even from great distances.
It was such a big bomb shot that for Branko Ilić it was enough just to push the ball a bit with his head to pass it to the net.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

He made it.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL!!!!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!

Fantastic, great goal! We were leading!!! 0:1

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

The stadium exploded, so much that for a short while the game literally needed a pause, because the field was covered with smoke, while euphoric fans lighted firecrackers and torches.
In the 67th minute Kojić had a chance, while fighting with two defenders at the same time. His trying ended in a corner. Two minutes later Gobeljić shot the ball to our goal, Živko Živković easily saved it. In the 71st minute N’diaye sent a flat but powerful shot, again it did not cause any problem to Živko Živković. In the 73rd minute Bajić tried, his shot flew out near the goalpost, our goalkeeper probably didn’t even wake up.
In the 77th minute Trujić got the ball on the left. He ran up, dribbled then shot from 16 metres. Živko Živković jumped, the ball hit the goalpost.
Napredak was continuously and desperately attacking, at this point we got a bit stuck to our half. In the 79th minute again Bajić shot, but missed.
In the 80th minute Babović could have gone to heaven right from the Kruševac field, but he was just standing around on the penalty area line with the ball, finally defenders tackled him. A minute later Andrija Živković ran up and passed to Kojić. Kojić shot, too high.
Then in the 83rd minute Kojić got the ball and ran up towards Napredak’s goal. He passed to the middle, where Andrija Živković arrived. Živković shot, with his left foot, passing the ball near the goalkeeper, who ran out, and the shot ended in the net.

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

0:2!!!

We are the champions!!!!

We just need to make it for the remaining few minutes of the game.

In the 86th minute Ninković ran up, he was tackled by defenders in the last moment. In the 87th minute we got a free kick, 20 metres from the goal. Napredak players were complaining, but the referee was relentless. Drinčić stood behind the ball, kicked, but the shot flew out near the goalpost.

In the 89th minute Napredak got a free kick at the half line. The shot flew to our penalty area, Trujić got it and shot. Živko Živković caught it. A minute later the home team again tried with a heading, Živko Živković saved it easily. Finally in the 90+1st minute Napredak got a free kick 25 metres from our goal line. The shot flew out above the crossbar.

This was that point when the speaker said, at the other match in Belgrade, that started at the same time as ours, Crvena Zvezda lost to 1:2 against that Radnički 1923, which team is the 16th on the league table.

Then it came to the end. Final whistle.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

Time to celebrate. Time to scream, jump, roll on the grass. Time to sing, hug, climbing among fans, scream and sing with them.

We absolutely, fully, totally deserve it now.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Former teammate Milan Obradović was also there

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the locker room the celebration continued.

Vulićević in ecstasy

Nikola Drinčić, as the subject of joy

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In this video the reporter of SOS Kanal is desperately trying to make an interview with Nikola Drinčić, who is overflown by his teammates’ happiness.

Former friends, teammates and allies started to send their greetings.

Поздравляем @FKPartizanBG с 26-м чемпионским титулом! Партизан шампион! pic.twitter.com/7XJIqCbvDo

— PFC CSKA MOSCOW (@PFC_CSKA_MOSCOW) May 14, 2015

Bravo fudbaleri! Ponosni smo na vas! #Partizanporodica #titula @FKPartizanBG

— KK Partizan NIS (@PartizanBC) May 13, 2015

Partizan je šampion, peva cela Srbija! Čestitke mom Partizanu na 26. osvojenoj tituli u domaćem šampionatu! Parni...
Posted by Miloš Jojić on Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Čestitke Fudbalski klub Partizan na novoj, 26. šampionskoj tituli!
Posted by Lazar Marković on Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Of course players were also celebrating on social media sites.

Partizan Shampion!!! pic.twitter.com/DgUeQROrpp

— Ivan Bandalovski (@Bandalinho) May 14, 2015

My family ⚫⚪⚫🏆🏆🏆

A photo posted by vovavolkov666 (@vovavolkov666) on May 13, 2015 at 2:56pm PDT

🏆🏆🏆

A video posted by vovavolkov666 (@vovavolkov666) on May 13, 2015 at 2:54pm PDT

Take a good look at Volkov’s Instagram-posts and on the beer cans the players are holding.

You just had to do it, you trolls, right? :DD

So, the championship title is sure, only a simultaneous volcano eruption, tsunami, earthquake and a plague of locusts could change it. Maybe. But there is something we must not forget. This championship title is theirs, too. Without them it could have never happened.

This championship title goes to Petar Škuletić, Danko Lazović and Marko Nikolić as well

(photo: srbijadanas.com)

Match highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Mladost Stadion, Kruševac
Number of spectators: 9000
Referee: Dejan Santrač (assistants: Vladimir Jovanović, Nemanja Petrović - 4th assistant: Vladimir Čađenović - goal line assistants: Srđan Obradović, Ilija Brdar)

Napredak: Janković - Gobeljić, Frimpong, Paunović, Urošević - Stanojević (Bajić, 73.), Vučetić - Lemajić, Dimitro (Majdevac, 73.), Trjuić - N’diaye (Vulić, 84.)
Head coach: Slavko Matić

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Ćirković, B. Ilić, Volkov - Drinčić, Brašanac - A. Živković, Babović, S. Ilić - Šaponjić
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorers: B. Ilić (62.), A. Živković (83.)
Yellow cards: Brašanac (11.), Gobeljić (86.)

Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 69 points
2. CZ 58 points
3. Čukarički 57 points
4. Vojvodina 46 points
5. Novi Pazar 43 points
6. Rad 40 points
7. OFK Beograd 39 points
8. Mladost 37 points
9. Radnički Niš 36 points
10. Borac 32 points
11. Jagodina 31 points
12. FK Voždovac 30 points
13. Napredak 28 points
14. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 28 points
15. Donji Srem 26 points
16. Radnički 1923 18 points