FK Partizan - Augsburg 1:3 (UEFA Europa League)

It’s just fucking hard now.
I can’t find the words. It just doesn’t work. Even if I deliberately slept it over.
What the hell could one say about it?...
The qualifying to the 1/16 final was in an arm’s length away. We were just an arm’s length away from Europe... and we couldn’t.
It was told before the match, the Germans need a 3:1 victory to qualify. For us even a 0:0 draw would have been enough.
And what was the result of this game?... 3:1 to Augsburg.
If I was about to make conspiracy theories, I’d say, the goddamned UEFA by default didn’t want Partizan to qualify, that’s why they sent here this lousy, cat-eater Italian, who refereed the game as it must have never been refereed. It was clear, even from distance that he hated to be there, he hated Partizan and wished to be as far from here as possible.

German fans set the tribune on fire before the game...

(photo: Twitter)

...Grave Diggers’ answer was this...

(photo: hotsport.rs)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

...and this

(photo: Twitter)

Partizan’s water polo team were on the tribune, they came to support the football players

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs)

The start of the game

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Partizan’s starting 11

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

You can see, Saša Ilić was not in the starting eleven.
Saša Ilić stayed on the bench for the entire game, he didn’t play even for a minute.
This wasn’t the only hair-raising anomaly in this match though.
We attacked right in the first minute. Andrija Živković crossed from the right, the goalkeeper caught it. Augsburg had a counter-attack, a player had a distant shot to our goal, it was way too high.
We were still in the 2nd minute, Andrija Živković got the ball on the right side. He made a row of fantastic dribbles, but the defenders kicked him on the ground. Free kick, from the line of the penalty area. Defenders headed it out, corner-kick.
In the 7th minute Bobadilla had a sudden, distant shot to our goal, but it was too high.
Then in the 11th minute Aboubakar got a fantastic pass. He ran up all alone, then shot and scored a giant goal. A-BOOM-bakar!!! 1:0!!! WE ARE LEADING!!!!

(photos: hotsport.rs)

This goal made Augsburg collapse. Even though they had two attempts after this, one in the 17th, the other in the 21st minute, but both avoided our goal. (First Stafylidis had a too high shot, then Trochowski attempted, but a leg appeared out of the blue and touched the ball, making the shot too wide.)
Then came the referee.
In the 22nd minute he whistled off a non-existing foul. Ninković tackled the German player arriving on the right. Džigi made it absolutely perfectly, even the slow motion replay confirmed it, but the referee ruthlessly gave a free kick to Augsburg. Our defenders headed it downfield, Andrija Živković could run up with an amazing dribble, just he gave himself a way too long pass.
Two minutes later Aboubakar sent a great cross from the right. Brašanac headed it to the goal, the goalkeeper saved. A minute later again Aboubakar passed the ball, now to Andrija Živković. Žile ran up, dribbled, then shot, the goalkeeper saved this one, too. Another minute later Brašanac headed upfield in the middle, crossed to Andrija Živković. Živković shot, it ended with a corner-kick.
In the 32nd minute Stafylidis had again a weak attempt, then almost immediately Janker brutally kicked Subić to the ground inside our penalty area. Subić was laying on the ground for long, finally he could stand up and continue playing - the referee didn’t whistle, there was no yellow card or any other retortion.
In the 34th minute again Stafylidis crossed from the right. It was very dangerous, Callsen-Bracker jumped up for the ball, Živko Živković had a great save.
In the 37th minute Callsen-Bracker fell on the ground after Ninković invalidated him. The German played "the dying swan", it took long minutes while the medicals picked his pieces together and carried him off the field. The game was on halt

by the way, the referee’s duty would be here to send everyone off the field, injured as well as medicals to continue giving assistance near the sideline, out of the field, so that teams can continue the game, wouldn’t it?

Then Partizan played defensive for quite a while. We were at the very end of the first half, playing the minutes of extra time, when the referee again stepped out of the dark. He gave a yellow card to Andrija Živković for a non-existing foul

he and Bandalovski were wrestling with an Augsburg-player at the sideline, then the guest player fell on the ground, the referee whistled it off, but I swear, my impression was that this rotten cat-eater guido was deliberately seeking for the chance to kill Živković

as well as a free kick for the Germans. The kick was headed to our net by Hong - it looked as if the ball dropped even on Živko Živković’s hand, but there was a too big goalmouth scramble, I’m not sure if I could see it clearly. 1:1

Živko Živković’s desperate face as he watches the ball dropping into the net

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The second half started with a German attempt. Trochowski shot, luckily a foot touched the ball, so it could avoid our net (it would have been most probably another goal otherwise). Thankfully the referee didn’t notice the foot, which almost surely belonged to a Partizan-player and whistled for goal-kick.
In the 50th minute Andrija Živković ran upfield and passed to Aboubakar. The Cameroonian dribbled, then he was kicked to the ground. (No, the referee didn’t whistle.)
A minute later it was 1:2.
I swear on anything that it was from offside, but there was no flag up. A very long pass came from deep, Dutch player Verhaegh jumped out and scored. (You can watch it here, if you have the heart for it.)
In the 52nd minute we got a free kick at the corner of Augsburg’s penalty area. Andrija Živković shot, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 56th minute Bobadilla crossed to the other side of our penalty area, to Ji. The Korean headed it to our goal line, Živko Živković saved. A minute later Aboubakar sent a big pass to Brašanac. Brašanac ran up, made a huge solo, fought himself through the defenders, then shot, the goalkeeper saved it. In the 60th minute again Aboubakar got the ball and passed to Ninković. Ninković ran up, dribbled, shot, it was too wide.

My nerves were wrecked way before the game. At this point I was in a catatonia, laying on the floor. I didn’t even have the strength to cry for a defibrillator. And the end was still way too far.

In the 61st minute Trochowski had a sudden, distant shot, Živko Živković had a great save.

Why does Živković have to stay on the bench?... Don’t take me wrong, I have nothing against Kljajić, he is skilled and talented, but Živković have these cat-alike reflexes. Just because someone had this idea that he made too many mistakes earlier?... Well, ladies and gentlemen, it is always the easiest to blame the goalkeeper for lost games. Kljajić is a great player, but he may need a bit more time to mature...

In the 69th minute a cross came from the left, Živko Živković caught it.
In the 71st minute we got a free kick, from about 25 metres. Andrija Živković shot, Ćirković headed it to the goal, it was a great movement, but the referee whistled it off, for him it was offside.
In the 73rd minute Ninković sent a distant, amazing cannon shot to the goal. The ball hit the crossbar and dropped to Andrija Živković. Živković shot, it was too wide.
In the 77th minute Živko Živković had a GIANT save with his leg (!!!). Earlier a Partizan-player was kicked to the ground again, the referee didn’t whistle again, even though our player stayed laying on the field. Brazilian player Caiuby ran up and shot, Živko Živković saved not just the goal line, but also fans from another heart attack.

We had quite a few of them during the game...

In the 79th minute we played "pinball football" on Augsburg’s half, passing the ball very quickly among each other, finally the ball dropped to Ninković. Ninković ran up on the left side, dribbled and shot, just barely missing the goal.
And here the referee sent off Andrija Živković.
The reason was simple, Žile touched the ball with his hand, and he already had a yellow card. He had to leave the field.

You rotten mafioso idiot referee, I hope you’re satisfied that you could turn off Partizan’s best player...

After this Andrija Živković was watching the game standing at the tunnel

(photo: mondo.rs)

In the 88th minute Brašanac got a fantastic pass. He run up all alone in the middle, shot, it was too high.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The 89th minute brought the coup de grace.
Augsburg attacked, with the usual goalmouth scramble. Suddenly Caiuby headed the ball to Bobadilla. The Paraguayan had nothing else to do than walk into the net with it. He did so. 1:3
That was the end.
End of the game, end of all hopes.

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Here is a video about the moments right after the final whistle. It says more than any words.

I won’t put any video highlights here. Sorry. On one hand UEFA blocked all videos, as usual, on the other I just have no heart for that. If you want to see it, you can search for it, you’ll surely find it uploaded, if not else, then the goals.

Here I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate Lazar Marković and Petar Škuletić that their teams (Fenerbahce and Lokomotiv Moscow) qualified to the 1/16 final of the Europa League. An extra high five to Markec for his fantastic goal.

After the game hell broke loose. Head coach Ljubinko Drulović plain and simply didn’t go to the post-match press conference. A few journalists could catch him as he tried to sneak out - he said something to them that he had a very important discussion with Iliev, that’s why he didn’t take part at the conference, then he disappeared.

WTF?... How?... And why?... It’s just impossible that the head coach deliberately misses out the press conference. No matter how many goals we get, no matter how deep is the shit we are in, the head coach must stand out and talk to the press. Responsibility, my ass...

After this even crazier rumours started to circulate. B92 talked about the entire Partizan-presidency resigning after the match. Though they added, these news are not confirmed. Unfortunately they are still not.

Rumours speak about raging Partizan-fans surrounding the club’s headquarters, demanding the resigning of the leadership. Press says the presidency collapsed for this heavy pressure and resigned. It smells a bit like Njuz.net, but if it really happens so, I’ll celebrate with champagne.

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 20 000
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (assistants: Alessandro Giallatini, Matteo Passeri - 4th assistant: Filippo Melli - goal line assistants: Marco Guida, Andrea Gervasoni) - ITA

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Ćirković, Fabricio, Subić (Petrović, 64.) - Brašanac - A. Živković, Babović, Jevtović, Ninković (Grbić, 83.) - Aboubakar
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

FC Augsburg: Hitz - Verhaegh, Janker, Callsen-Bracker (Hong, 40.), Stafylidis (Max, 80.) - Koo (Caiuby, 60.), Baier, Trochowski, Ji - Bobadilla, Matavz
Head coach: Markus Weinzierl

Goal scorers: Aboubakar (11.), Hong (45+1.), Verhaegh (51.), Bobadilla (89.)
Yellow card: Ninković (36.), A. Živković (45+1), Bobadilla (90.)
Red card: A. Živković (80. - second yellow card)

FK Partizan - Vojvodina 0:2 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 20)

It was a busy day today. All teams played their current league rounds/cup finals today except for the ice hockey team. The football team started the day at 14:00, and what else could be better for a starter than a humiliating defeat?

</irony>

The game started with the Serbian national anthem, as usual, but this time nobody cared. Players exchanged handshakes, teams chose their areas, team photos were made, it was rather awkward. What if we would forget about this whole national anthem thing and stay at the well-tried "Da volim crno-bele"? Just asking...

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

After last week’s Europa League victory the team decided to make this match a free entrance for fans as a gift. The stands were nicely packed this time.
The game started right with a brawl. Sekulić got into a fight with Bojinov, the referee immediately showed the yellow card for both of them.

There is this kind of referee that LOVES to be important, to be in the centre of attention. He blows his whistle whether it’s needed or not, takes action, keeps busy, but he achieves only one thing with this: he destroys fans’ nerves. Well, Bojan Nikolić was just this type.

We got a corner kick in the 4th minute. Andrija Živković kicked it, Bojinov headed it, it was too high. Vojvodina started a counter-attack, but their attempt died away with a corner kick.

In the 8th minute Partizan’s former striker Danko Lazović appeared on the screen for a moment, standing at the tunnel, watching the game. Erm... what if we tried to keep him here?... Just asking...

Meanwhile Sekulić "redeemed" to Bojinov (he kicked the Bulgarian brutally to the ground), the referee kept on showing his favourite card (aka yellow) around.

For some reason Bandalovski was especially dislikable for the referee. He showed the yellow card for the Bulgarian already in the 12th minute, and for the rest of the game he racked the defender’s nerves with irrational judgements. Viewers could often see Bandalovski in this pose during the game

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

"Mr. Referee, you’re an idiot! Yes, you!"

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the 12th minute the match had to be interrupted, Grave Diggers covered the stadium with smoke.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

(photos: Twitter)

Then the air has cleared, Vojvodina got a free kick, about 22 metres from the goal line. The shot hit the wall, we could go for counter-attack. It ended in a corner-kick.
The 23rd minute brought an excellent Bojinov-Andrija Živković pinball trick, then the Bulgarian striker shot. It was dangerous, the goalkeeper saved.
Here the referee again interrupted the game. As it came to light, he didn’t like those rhymes Grave Diggers chanted to mock the opponent. Referee and Grand Moff Nikolić decided to pause the game (by the authority that was given to him), because he felt a great disturbance in the Force. Or something.

It’s impossible. I can’t believe it. Has this dude never been to any football game where fans mock each other? For God’s sake, if his mental constitution is this very lacy, why doesn’t he rather go and be a rope-dancer? There he’ll surely find no enraged fans chanting rhymes about the opponent’s family tree.

Never mind. A few minutes later we could continue the game. Free kick for Vojvodina, 17 metres, right side. Kljajić saved.
The pace was quick, with a lot of fights, game was going mostly on the midfield. At this point there were barely any goal attempts. In the 35th minutes we started a counter-attack after a Vojvodina corner kick. Saša Ilić passed to Andrija Živković. He forwarded to Bojinov, Bojinov shot, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 38th minute Grbić crossed the ball from the right to the middle, but it was too long for Bojinov. A minute later Jevtović sent a distant shot to the goal. It was dangerous, the goalkeeper saved to corner kick.
Meanwhile Vojvodina tried with full-court press, thankfully without any luck. Finally in the 42nd minute a long cross arrived at our goalmouth. For our great luck it was too long for Ožegović, who just ran up there, the ball rolled over in front our goal.
In the 44th minute again Ožegović tried with a heading, it was too wide. A minute later Andrija Živković ran up to Vojvodina’s penalty area. He had a great solo, dribbled, but he was blocked to corner kick by a defender. After the kick Ninković got the ball, he shot, it was too wide.
At the very end of the first half Ožegović had one another try with a flat, weak shot. It was an easy job for Kljajić.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

For the second half my internet connection died, the stream was useless. (Looking at the final result maybe it’s better this way.) I reconstructed the events of the half from reports and highlights.
In the 52nd minute Andrija Živković passed to Grbić with a fantastic Oxford-trick. Grbić ran up and crossed to Ninković. Ninković shot, it was too high. Four minutes later again Andrija Živković possessed the ball. He dribbled, then passed to Grbić, again with a spectacular movement. Grbić ran up, shot, but a defender blocked.
In the meantime guests kept on kicking Partizan-players to the ground. Either they got yellow card for it, or not, probably it depeneded on the referee’s mood.
Around the 60th minute Vojvodina had two attempts. First Babić had a distant shot, then Nastić had a try. Kljajić saved both.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the 63rd minute Saša Ilić wrestled with at least 3 defenders, then he ran up. He dribbled himself through Vojvodina’s blockade and passed to Bojinov. Bojinov shot, too high. (The Bulgarian was just holding his head afterwards.) Two minutes later Saša Ilić had a bomb shot from the same place, too high.
In the 66th minute Ninković crossed from the left. Bojinov jumped to head the ball to the net, but it was imprecise. (It was also flag up.)
In the 70th minute players got into a fight again. Andrija Živković was put into sandwich by 3 players, meanwhile one of them tried to catch the ball with hand. In exchange Partizan’s midfielder pushed him down (upon SOS Kanal’s footage). The players started to yell at each other, pushing each other, finally Maksimović got a yellow card.
In the 72nd minute Andrija Živković possessed the ball. He ran up, dribbled then crossed to Ninković. Ninković headed it to the middle, Lukić arrived, headed it, but a defender blocked, the attempt died away. We still possessed the ball, it dropped again to Ninković. Džigi shot again, hitting the crossbar this time. Corner kick, the ball was shot downfield by defenders blocking Saša Ilić.
Then in the 80th minute Vojvodina got a corner kick. Rosić rose up and headed the ball to the net. 0:1
In the 84th minute the referee got fed up with Sekulić and his amok running (the midfielder was like a warthog for the whole time, picking up a quarrel with not only Bojinov but practically anyone wearing black-and-white jersey) and sent him off with a second yellow card. Vojvodina quickly made a tactical substitution. Ožegović had to come off, well, he should have had to, but the player had the speed of a sloth. Even the referee told him to be a bit faster, finally Grbić got fed up and started to push Vojvodina’s player. The two started a verbal fight, eventually the referee showed the yellow card for both (Grbić accepted it with a sarcastic bow).
So, as you can see, the atmosphere was great and friendly.
(Oh, wait...)
From this point on there was a continuous fight among players on the field. At one moment Šaponjić was mocked by a Vojvodina-player, then Ninković was yelling with someone. The referee was just showing around the yellow card. (He showed it 9 times during the game.)
And then, in this tensed atmosphere Rosić kicked down Saša Ilić inside the penalty area in the 87th minute. Penalty. It was beyond question. The referee immediately showed at the penalty point.
Ninković stood behind the ball. He ran up...
...and goalkeeper Perić saved it.
And if it was not enough, Vojvodina started a counter-attack. Stanisavljević got a cross in the middle. He shot and scored. 0:2
Fans were shouting "Uprava napolje".
Let’s just forget this game, okay?...

Vojvodina’s head coach Lalatović comforts an emotional Ninković after the match

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 10 000
Referee: Bojan Nikolić (assistants: Nemanja Petrović, Slobodan Pavlović - 4th assistant: Marko Dimitrijević - goal line assistants: Nenad Đokić, Dejan Anđelković)

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Grbić, Bandalovski, Ćirković, Subić - Jevtović (Šaponjić, 83.), S. Ilić, A. Živković, Ninković - Bojinov (Aboubakar, 66.), Lukić (Babović, 75.)
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Vojvodina: Perić - Ivanić, Vukčević (Stanisavljević, 75.), Pankov, Lakičević - Nastić, Babić (Puškarić, 83.), Rosić, Sekulić - Maksimović, Ožegović (Kovačević, 86.)
Head coach: Nenad Lalatović

Goal scorers: Rosić (80.), Stanisavljević (89.)
Yellow card: Bojinov (2.), Sekulić (2.), Bandalovski (12.), Pankov (58.), Maksimović (70.), Ožegović (86.), Grbić (86.), Rosić (87.)
Red card: Sekulić (84.), second yellow card

League table will be brought later.

Update: current championship standings
1. CZ 56 points
2. Borac 37 points
3. Čukarički 35 points
4. Partizan 32 points
5. Radnički Niš 31 points
6. Vojvodina 31 points
7. Javor 27 points
8. Mladost 27 points
9. FK Voždovac 25 points
10. Surdulica 24 points
11. Metalac 21 points
12. Novi Pazar 20 points
13. OFK Beograd 18 points
14. Jagodina 16 points
15. Rad 15 points
16. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 10 points

FK Voždovac - FK Partizan 0:1 (Serbian Cup, 1/8 final)

Victory: check.
Qualfiying for the next round: check.
Another serious injury for Vulićević: check.

All right, all right, I won’t speak too soon, let’s just see all events in order, one after the other.

I don’t know whose idea it was to put a football match for Wednesday, early in the afternoon. Whomever it was, I send them my warmest greetings packed in a mail bomb.

The beginning of the game was eventless. There was a free kick for the home team in the 5th minute, it was an easy task for Živko Živković.

Other than this nothing happened. Really nothing. One could have peeled potatoes, played with electric train, cut fingernails, installed a plug into the wall or anything else. Nobody would have missed out anything. (Maybe only Aboubakar losing the ball every now and then...)

In the 12th minute we got a free kick, approx. 20 metres from the goal line. Ninković ran up, shot, it was too high. We were trying with attacks, pretty much with half speed, so that our attempts died away. Then in the 16th minute Babović was trying on the left side, then passed the ball to Ninković. Ninković crossed it to the middle, the ball rolled out through the baseline. Corner-kick, the goalkeeper caught the ball.
In the 19th minute Stojanović had a sudden, distant shot (he probably got fed up with the general fumbling and slow pace), it was way too high.

Subić and Ninković inactivate Stanković

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the 20th minute Aboubakar got a cross from the left. The striker was standing right in front of the goal line, but the goalkeeper caught the ball. Two minutes later we got a free kick at the left sideline. Ninković shot it inside the penalty area, the defenders pushed the ball out through the base line. Corner-kick.
Then in the 24th minute the team captain of Voždovac and Vulićević clashed. Vulićević fell on the ground in such a misfortunate way that he had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

The moment Vulićević falls

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Here you can see there’s big trouble - Vulićević is laying on the ground, Partizan-players are horrified, while home team members wave for medical assistance

(photo: partizan.rs)

Medicals arrived in a hurry and carried Partizan’s defender off

(photo: hotsport.rs)

An ambulance car took him to hospital

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

The first news were very worrying: broken arm, urgent operation, long weeks of recovery. Soon before writing this blogpost though mozzartsport.com cited Partizan’s team doctor, Dr. Ilija Rosić. He accompanied Vulićević to the hospital and he said, Partizan’s defender has no broken bones. His elbow has dislocated though and his ligaments are torn. He’ll have to wear plaster on his arm for at least 3 weeks.
In the 29th minute we started a counter-attack after a Voždovac-free kick. Ninković ran up, crossed to Aboubakar in the middle - all the Cameroonian striker had to do is to head it into the net. He did so. 0:1

(photos: partizan.rs)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The next event was just a small pause in the 42nd minute. The field was covered with smoke, Grave Diggers lighted their torches and made a happy bonfire.

(photo: Twitter)

The last action of the first half happened in the 43rd minute. Andrija Živković was dribbling, then passed the ball to Aboubakar. He forwarded it to Babović, Babović to Ninković, Ninković shot, the goalkeeper saved.

Saša Ilić in the half-time

(photo: partizan.rs)

Albert Nagy was also present at the stands

(Does anyone know where I could buy such a cap?)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Like a boss - creative way to watch a football game for free

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the second half, at the 49th minute Brašanac possessed the ball. He crossed it to Ninković in the left. Ninković served the ball with a fantastic pass (it looked as if Džigi was holding the ball on a golden plate) to Babović in the middle. All doors and windows were open, but Babović again made that typical mistake that instead of shooting he started to position himself. The defenders easily tackled him.
In the 53rd minute Brašanac and Andrija Živković were playing "pinball" with the ball, then Živković crossed it to the middle to Ninković. Ninković shot with a fantastic bicycle kick, but defenders blocked his attempt. The ball dropped to Jevtović, he shot from the distance, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 57th minute Srećković had a sudden, distant shot, too high.
Then nothing happened for more than 10 minutes. The game was going mostly on our half, but Voždovac didn’t have even a shot on target. Finally in the 69th minute we started a counter-attack. Andrija Živković ran up, passed to Ninković, Ninković shot, the goalkeeper saved. Two minutes later Saša Ilić got the ball inside Voždovac’s penalty area. He passed it ahead to Aboubakar, Aboubakar shot, too wide.
In the 79th minute Andrija Živković got a pass, ran up and crossed it to the goalmouth. Ninković arrived, but the goalkeeper caught it. A minute later we again started a counter-attack after a corner-kick by Voždovac. Saša Ilić passed to Andrija Živković, he forwarded it to Ninković. Ninković shot, too high.
In the 83rd minute after a free kick by the home team Ninković clashed with a Voždovac-player. It looked to be an ordinary foul, that kind which happens a million times at every football game. The retorsion is usually just a free kick, then everything is back on track.
But not this time.
Referee Stoilković showed the yellow card to Ninković, nobody knows why. It was a disproportional punishment for such a small foul. The entire Partizan-bench jumped up, Ljubinko Drulović explained something to the referee with big gestures, but he couldn’t convince him.

(photo: partizan.rs)

Voždovac attacked desperately. In the 85th minute Zlatković got a cross from the other side of the field. He shot, it was too wide.
There was one attempt left for the very last minute. Bojinov shot from the distance, the ball almost flew out of the stadium.

(photo: hotsport.rs)m

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Obilić na Vračaru stadum, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 2000
Referee: Igor Stoilković (assistants: Vukan Gordić, Dragan Bogičević - 4th assistant: Milan Jeremić)

FK Voždovac: Milošević - Stanković, Mihajlović, Jovanović, Radivojević - Sinđić, M. Pavlović - Marinković, Stojanović (Ristović, 70.), Srećković (Odita, 62.) - Masović (Zlatković, 77.)
Head coach: Bratislav Živković

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević (Petrović, 27.), Bandalovski, Ćirković, Subić - Jevtović, Brašanac - A. Živković, Babović (S. Ilić, 68.), Ninković (Bojinov, 90.) - Aboubakar
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Goal scorer: Aboubakar (29.)
Yellow card: Ćirković (28.), Mihajlov (64.), Babović (56.), Trujić (87.)

Spartak Zlatibor Voda - FK Partizan 0:1 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 19)

The weather was clear and sunny in Subotica.

And see, Saša Ilić was our captain today

(screenshot)

Subotica immediately had an attempt. They attacked from the left side, finally it ended in a corner kick. After the kick Partizan-defenders cleared the area.
Well, actually, better said, we allowed them to warm up.
Because after this Partizan put themselves into speed action. In the 6th minute we already got a corner kick, that made a serious goalmouth scrumble for Spartak. Andrija Živković possessed the ball, then he was tackled, but still we kept Spartak’s goal under attack. Eventually the referee whistled it off. Goal-kick.
In the 9th minute Saša Ilić and Leković kept on passing the ball to each other, then Leković crossed it to the middle. A Spartak-defender kicked it out through the baseline. Corner-kick. Ninković got the ball, he shot, the goalkeeper saved. A minute later Spartak had another attempt with a 25-metre free kick, our defenders headed it out. We started a counter-attack, Andrija Živković crossed it to Vulićević on the right. Vulićević ran up and shot from a sharp angle, the goalkeeper saved it.
Meanwhile in the 12th minute someone on the stand got sick so much that an ambulance car arrived to give them medical attendance. The game was halted for a short time.

(photo: Twitter)

In the 14th minute Brašanac tried with a kick to the goal, the goalkeeper again saved it. A minute later we got a free kick, 25 metres from the goal line. Ninković stood behind the ball and sent a cross to Vulićević on the other side. Vulićević passed it to Brašanac, Brašanac forwarded it to Andrija Živković. He was wrestling with a defender, finally it ended in a throw-in.
Partizan was much stronger and determined now than (any time) earlier in the past weeks. We attacked, with no passing backwards or fumbling.
In the 16th minute Brašanac ran up on the left side. He crossed it to the  middle, the goalkeeper jumped out of the goalmouth to catch it, but the ball rolled away from him, right to Andrija Živković. The young winger grabbed it and with an amazing bicycle kick he shot. It was just too high.
Two minutes later Saša Ilić got the ball in the middle. He forwarded it to Brašanac, Brašanac shot it to the goal line, but this one was also too high.
The 20th minute brought an amazing Andrija Živković-Saša Ilić-Nikola Ninković pinball-shooting inside the penalty area - but the referee whistled it off, because by his viewpoint Saša Ilić in fact played handball.
In the 22nd minute Ninković crossed after a corner kick, but defenders headed it out. We still possessed the ball, Leković ran up on the left, passing forward to Brašanac, but the pass was too long.

Leković was in great shape

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the 26th minute Stefan Ilić got suddenly a pass on the right side. Subotica’s player shot, it was too high. A minute later they got a free kick, but our defenders cleared the area.
In the 30th minute Ninković passed to Brašanac. Brašanac forwarded the ball to Andrija Živković. He ran up, almost sliding out through the baseline, but still had a shot from an almost impossible angle. Goalkeeper Janošević caught it.

Brašanac ran a lot, he was present at all Partizan-attempts

Bandalovski was also in his reliable shape, being the bastion of the right side

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the 36th minute Jevtović passed to Andrija Živković, who forwarded the ball to Bojinov with an amazingly spectacular Oxford-trick. Bojinov shot, it was too high (and it was even flag up, for offside).
In the 37th minute we started a counter-attack after a Spartak free kick. Ninković crossed to the middle, Bojinov headed it, but it was too wide. A minute later Spartak attacked, Bandalovski blocked their attempt to corner kick.
Then in the second half, at the 50th minute we got a free kick. (Bojinov was kicked to the ground by a Spartak-defender right at the penalty area line.) Andrija Živković stood behind the ball...

(photo: hotsport.rs)

...and sent a giant bomb shot into the upper left corner!!! 0:1!!!

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the 56th minute Bojinov sent a great pass to Ninković. Ninković ran up, a defender threw himself into the way, finally it ended in a corner kick.
In the 60th minute Saša Ilić got the ball after a corner kick. He forwarded it to Andrija Živković. Žile crossed it to the middle, there Jevtović headed it to the goal line, the goalkeeper again had a huge save.
In the 65th minute Mrkela appeared suddenly on the right side. He even shot, Kljajić saved. They immediately attacked again, now from the other side, this time Ćirković blocked them.
At this part of the match there were less attacks and attempts than in the first half. The game was going mostly on the midfield. In the 72nd minute a Partizan-throw-in caused a goalmouth scramble for Spartak. Andrija Živković suddenly shot, the goalkeeper performed the save of his life. Two minutes later Spartak had an attempt with a shot, Kljajić just reached out and caught it easily.
In the 76th minute Andrija Živković got the ball after a free kick. He ran up on the left, made a fantastic solo then crossed it to the middle - just the goalkeeper threw himself into the way and saved.

Saša Ilić. No further comment is needed

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the 78th minute Mrkela appearead again on our right side and crossed the ball to the middle. Božović was waiting there, he raised up to head it to our goal line, but it was way too high.
The rest of the game was mostly about Partizan’s corner kicks and missed out attempts, though at one of them Bandalovski was kicked so hard to the ground that he was rolling on the grass screaming. At the very end of the match, in the 90+4th minute Spartak had one last attempt. Milošević shot, Kljajić saved.

(photo: partizan.rs)

Short highlights (as soon as there are longer, I’ll update the post):

Facts:

Venue: City Stadium, Subotica
Number of spectators: 3000
Referee: Danilo Grujić (assistants: Srđan Milutinović, Bojan Jovanović - 4th assistant: Slađan Rajković - goal line assistants: Dejan Anđelković, Dalibor Manojlović)

Spartak Zlatibor Voda: Janošević - Farkaš, Kovačević, Antonić, Milošević - Jočić, Tumbasević (Makarić, 53.) - Stefan Ilić (Božović, 53.), Torbica, Jondić - Ivanović (Mrkela, 46.)
Head coach: Andrei Chernisov

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Vulićević, Bandalovski, Ćirković, Leković - Jevtović, Brašanac - A. Živković (Trujić, 90.), Saša Ilić, Ninković (Petrović, 89.) - Bojinov (Šaponjić, 63.)
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Goal scorer: A. Živković (50.)
Yellow card: Jočić (37.), Brašanac (46.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 53 points
2. Čukarički 35 points
3. Borac 34 points
4. Partizan 32 points
5. Radnički Niš 31 points
6. Vojvodina 28 points
7. Javor 27 points
8. Mladost 24 points
9. FK Voždovac 22 points
10. Surdulica 21 points
11. Novi Pazar 20 points*
12. Metalac 18 points
13. OFK Beograd 18 points
14. Rad 15 points
15. Jagodina 15 points*
16. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 9 points

*The game between Novi Pazar and Jagodina has been postponed for later date

AZ Alkmaar - FK Partizan 1:2 (UEFA Europa League)

We won!!!
What a game it was, my God.
Average Fan died a couple of times, resurrected, died again, resurrected again... and at the end shed tears, without feeling ashamed.

This photo was taken the day before the game with fans of Partizan and CSKA Moscow. Russian fans were also present to support Partizan and Grave Diggers

(photo: Twitter)

Our starting eleven

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

We didn’t start too aggressively, the Dutch team took advantage of it and attacked heavily. In the first 15 minutes we got stuck around our penalty area. They kept on possessing the ball, Partizan’s only hope was that they can’t break the defensive wall. In the 12th minute dos Santos shot from the penalty area line, Kljajić saved. Two minutes later Dutch team had a "pinball style" attack inside our penalty area. Three of their players had an attempt to goal, all of them were blocked by our defenders. Then in the 15th minute we could finally break out. Brašanac passed the ball to Andrija Živković on the right. Živković ran up and shot, the attempt ended in a corner kick. After the kick the ball dropped to Babović, he shot, it was too wide.
In the 17th minute again the home team attacked. A cross shot came from the left, the ball rolled through between Kljajić’s hands, cardial arrest, but the ball rolls away to the other side of the penalty area, where there was no Alkmaar-player, for our great luck. It ended in a goal-kick.
In the 19th minute Alkmaar attacked again, now Brežančić shot from the left side, Kljajić caught it.

In the meantime one follows continuously the other match of Group L. At this point Bilbao was leading to 1:0 against Augsburg. Great, fantastic, if Bilbao wins over Germans, that’s the best for us, if we can also win, then even a draw is enough in the last round to qualify to the 1/16 final.

The opponent started to slow down, their big pace from the beginning was gone. For some reason we could’t make any advantage of it though... We kept on passing the ball backwards and even though we could make sometimes to the Dutch penalty area, we couldn’t make any more than a corner kick out of them. Then in the 32nd minute Alkmaar again attacked on the left. The cross was passed to Iranian player Jahanbakhsh on the right. He shot, it was too high.

It seemed that the referee didn’t like Partizan much either. There were cases - not just one or two - when a clear foul was committed against our player, but he always waved "go ahead".

In the 35th minute Brašanac got the ball in the middle. He ran up, passed to the right to Andrija Živković. Žile brought it back almost from the baseline, then crossed it to Aboubakar in the middle, but the chance was missed out.
In the 41st minute Subić ran up on the left side. He crossed it to the middle, the ball dropped to Babović. Babović shot from the goalmouth, but it was too wide. A minute later Ninković shot from the left, it was also too wide.

Partizan sped up for the second part of the first half. We attacked, we had attempts, and Babović was kicked to the ground more often at this very match than in the entire season.

Grave Diggers

(photos: Twitter)

A quick look in the half time to the standing of the other match: damn it, Germans equalized... It’s not good for us. Not at all. We MUST win, come on!...
The first half was broadcasted by RTS 2, then they probably thought that the nerves of Partizan fans are not broken enough, so they made some extra excitements. The second half was broadcasted by RTS 1, the problem was that at this side of the globe there’s no normal (ie. working) RTS 1-stream. All of them are blocked. Desperate search for ANY working link, finally a Croatian one popped up, but those people practically broadcasted the entire EL-round showing only pieces from all matches. Desperate search continued, finally an English stream was found, but the commentator was not much talkative there. Never mind. It will be fine.

At the beginning of the second half, in the 48th minute Alkmaar took the lead. Brežančić crossed from the left side, dos Santos got it in the middle and shot between two Partizan-defenders, right into the net. 1:0

No. Just... no. It’s death. It’s impossible. It can’t be.

Partizan collapsed from this goal. The speed of the previous half’s last minutes was gone, we were again that slow, cautious, backward-passing team as we were in the beginning. The Dutch team heartened up, they again possessed the ball more and attacked, too. Finally, in the 55th minute, we could have an attempt. After a corner-kick Ćirković headed the ball to the goal, the goalkeeper had a great save.
In the 62nd minute we lost the ball, Janssen got it. He ran up all alone, shot, Kljajić saved. Two minutes later a distant Dutch shot came from the middle, Kljajić was at his place.
In the 65th minute Subić got the ball from the left. He passed it ahead to Ninković. Ninković crossed it to Aboubakar in the middle, and Aboubakar headed it right into the net, pefrectly. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL, yesssss, that’s it, we equalized! 1:1!

(photo: partizan.rs)

A quick look at the other match. Goddamn it, the Germans are leading to 2:1... Come on, boys, come on, push it, push it hard, as hard as you can!...

In the 68th minute a Dutch attack came from the right, but Kljajić rolled down the shutters. A minute later Henrikssen had an attempt from the middle, the Bulgarian Sergio Ramos, aka Bandalovski

Bojinov said it once, and who am I to disagree with him?...

touched it, the attempt ended in a corner kick. The kick was headed downfield by Ćirković.
In the 70th minute, after another Alkmaar-corner kick we started a counter-attack. Aboubakar possessed the ball, he passed it to Ninković. Ninković ran up and with a delicate movement he passed the ball above the goalkeeper, towards the goal line... and it was too wide.

(photo: partizan.rs)

From this the Dutch team immediately ran up for a counter-attack. Janssen had almost the very same scene with Kljajić as Ninković with Coutinho, just Ćirković threw himself into the way (then stayed on the ground).
In the 76th minute we again started a counter-attack after an Alkmaar-corner kick, but we lost the ball. The Dutch team attacked back, arriving on the right, but Kljajić inactivated the shot.
Dutch players turned into more and more rough, the referee either whistled it off, or not. Time passed... We were in the 83rd minute, Ortiz had a distant shot, it was too wide.
In the 86th minute Alkmaar got another corner kick. Kljajić punched it out, but Luckassen headed it back to the penalty area, making a goalmouth scramble. The ball dropped again to Luckassen, the Dutch player was on a huge offside, but no flag up. Luckassen shot, it was too wide. A minute later we attacked, Aboubakar passed the ball to Andrija Živković. Živković passed it ahead to Vulićević, he crossed from the right, the goalkeeper caught the ball.

A quick look at the "neighbourhood": Bilbao took back the lead!!! If we can keep this draw, we can make it!!!

And then came the 89th minute.
Aboubakar got a cross on the left side. He ran up to the Dutch penalty area and crossed to Andrija Živković in the middle. Živković had nothing else to do than shooting it into the net.
He did it.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL, a fantastic GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!!
1:2!!!!
We’re leading!!!

Živković scores...

...and celebrates

(photos: partizan.rs)

Three miuntes of extra time were left.
Life’s longest three minutes.
But then they ended. Final whistle. Time to celebrate.

(photos: partizan.rs)

(photo: uefa.com)

For Average Fan there was still a short, but nerve-racking part left, because the Augsburg - Athletic Bilbao game hadn’t ended at this point. Bilbao was leading to 2:3, may the Heavenly Forces give us to stay like this for the end.
It did.
Celebration time.
If there’s any video, I’ll update the post.

Facts:

Venue: AFAS AZ Stadium, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Number of spectators: 15 000
Referee: Harald Lechner (assistants: Andreas Staudinger, Andreas Heidenreich - 4th assistant: Maximilian Kolbitsch - goal line assistants: Alexander Harkam, Julian Weinberger) - AUT

AZ Alkmaar: Coutinho - Johansson, Gouweleeuw, Luckassen, Brežančić - van Overeem (Tanković, 75.), Ortiz (Hupperts, 88.), dos Santos - Henriksen - Janssen, Jahanbakhsh (Muhren, 80.)
Head coach: John van den Brom

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Vulićević, Bandalovski, Ćirković, Subić - Jevtović, Babović (S. Ilić, 75.) - A. Živković (Grbić, 90+2.), Brašanac, Ninković (Bojinov, 84.) - Aboubakar
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Goal scorers: dos Santos (48.), Aboubakar (65.), A. Živković (89.)
Yellow card: Bandalovski (26.), Luckassen (45.), A. Živković (90.)

Current standing of Group L:
1. Athletic Bilbao 12 points
2. Partizan 9 points
3. Augsburg 6 points
4. AZ Alkmaar 3 points