Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga round 5, previously postponed fixture
Venue: Partizan Stadium
Kick-off time: 4.30pm CET
Referee: Milan Stefanovic
Yellow cards: Fuhrer (PAR) – Ilic, Stewart (RN)
GOALS: 1-0 `3 Natcho, 2-0 `35 Filipovic, 2-1 `39 Stewart, 3-1 `67 Zubairu
Teams:
PARTIZAN
Jovanovic, Filipovic, Arriaga, Ilic, Mujakic (Lazarevic 78), Scekic, Kovac (Stjepanovic 78), Natcho (Jankovic 67), Kalulu (Fuhrer 78), Zubairu (Alilovic 87), Nikolic
RADNICKI
Manojlovic, Jo, Yamkam, Pavlovic (Stajic HT), Stojanovic, Vojnovic, Yurukov (Zec 73), Belakovic (Terzic 63), Bosic, Ilic, Stewart
Beograd, Dec 4
Partizan beat Radnicki Nis 3-1 at home in a previously postponed SSL round 5 fixture. Our boys are now on a 10-game run without a defeat.
Caretaker boss Marko Jovanovic made one starting line-up change with Mujakic deputizing for injured left-back Jurcevic.
Partizan had a great opportunity as early as 2 Kovac was unable to make the most of Zubairu`s pass inside the box and his sliding shot was met by a comfortable save from Radnicki keeper.
Minute later, away keeper sent a poor pass forward for alerted Natcho to intercept it and coolly slot the ball home. Seventh goal this term for seasoned Israeli playmaker. Partizan 1, Radnicki 0.
Visitors poured forward in search of an equalizer but Partizan defence dealt with early attacks from Radnicki, while Partizan played a number of counter-attacks with lots of pace but not really threatening visitors net.
Belakovic had a great opportunity for Radnicki on 12 but he sent a poor angled close range shot.
Zubairu tested Radnicki keeper on 15 who had to dive and punch the ball away while Kalulu`s shot on 16 rebounded off the player to amount for a comfortable save for Manojlovic.
Natcho hesitated with his shot on 20, enough to allow Yamkam clear the danger.
Radnicki hit the post on 27 out of the blue. Lack of communication from Partizan defence led to Steward`s header off the woodwork.
Nice and simple Partizan build-up on 29 – cross from Kovac, header down from Zubairu and left-footed drive just wide of the left post from Nikolic.
Partizan doubled the lead on 35 after great inviting ball from Nikolic inside the box and onto the far post for Filipovic to smash the ball into the net with his close range header. Partizan 2, Radnicki 0.
Lively Stewart halved the deficit on 39 sending an angled shot inside the box into the far corner after a long run and pass from Vojnovic. Partizan 2, Radnicki 1.
Minute later,Radnicki`s Ilic threaten Partizan net with a tricky lob attempt just over the bar while Mihajlo Ilic managed to clear the ball away from danger on 42.
Final opportunity in the first half was Nikolic`s shot over the bar on 44.
After the break, there was a VAR review for possible handball in Radnicki box but the play continued soon after. Nikolic scored on 52 but he was offside in a build-up.
Shot from Zubairu on 54 was blocked by Vojnovic and we soon entered calm period of the game.
Nikolic headed the ball wide of the far post after a cross from Filipovic on 65 while youngster Dimitrije Jankovic made his Partizan debut by coming in for Natcho on 67.
Moments later, Zubairu made it 3-1! A great edge of the box strike from Ghanian winger who smashed the ball into the far left corner of the net. Partizan 3, Radnicki 1.
Nikolic was close to score a goal himself on 72 with an excellent edge of the box drop-kick but only for goalkeeper to made a fine save.
Kovac was close to score on 76 while Mihajlo Ilic headed the ball wide from a resulting corner-kick.
Three more Partizan subs on 78 – Kovac , Mujakic and Kalulu made way for Stjepanovic, Fuhrer and Lazarevic.
Final Partizan substitution was another debut - a cameo appearance for youth Alilovic who came in for Zubairu on 87.
Radnicki had one final opportunity on 90+1 but Mihajlo Ilic made two excellent blocks to prevent late drama.
Partizan is away to Zeleznicar Pancevo on Sunday (7pm CET kick-off) for a regular SSL round 18 fixture.
