Partizan – Besiktas 1:1 (1:1)

Europa League play-off, first leg

Beograd, 23^rd of August 2018

Venue: Partizan Stadium

Att: 20000

Kick-off time: 8.30pm CET

Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)

Yellow cards: Kosovic, Ivanovic, NG Miletic, Nikolic (PAR) – Erkin, Arslan, Larin (BES)

GOALS: 1-0 `14 Ricardo, 1-1 `15 Arslan

Teams:

PARTIZAN

Stojkovic, NR Miletic, Markovic, Valiente, NG Miletic, Kosovic (`66 Scekic), Zdjelar, Pantic, Zakaric, Jankovic (`33 Ivanovic), Ricardo (`74 Nikolic)

BESIKTAS

Zengin, Gonul, Pepe (`76 Roco), Vida, Adriano ,Uysal, Medel, Arslan (`88 Yalcin), Erkin, Quaresma (`79 Tore), Larin

Game stats:

PARTIZAN                                    BESIKTAS

8                        Total shots                       8

2                         On target                         3

5                         Off target                         4

1                      Blocked shots                     1

2                             Saves                             1

21                         Free-kicks                      23

19                            Fouls                            18

3                        Corner-kicks                       5

4                           Offsides                           2

34                          Throws                          13

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

`4: Dangerous right side cross from Uysal, Arslan inches away from getting a header

`14: 1-0, PARTIZAN!! Left side cross onto far post from Zakaric and header from Ricardo into the net

`15: 1-1, BESIKTAS! Quaresma`s right side cross and unchallenged close range header from Arslan into the net

`20: 15m shot from Arslan wide

`33: Ivanovic in for Jankovic (injury)

`36: Uncomfortable right flank set-piece cross, Stojkovic punches the ball away on the goalline

`37: Left-footed 20m drive from Zakaric just wide

`38: Kosovic cautioned (holding) and he will miss return leg in Istanbul

`39: Besiktas corner-kick and Larin`s header just wide

`42: Solo break into the box from Ricardo,  angled low shot and keeper`s save, no Partizan player around to seize on a rebound

`43: Ivanovic cautioned (tripping)

`43: NG Miletic cautioned for a challenge on Quaresma

`44: Besiktas counter-attack and poor lob attempt from Larin easily dealt by Stojkovic

`45: Three mins added time

`45+3: Half-time whistle

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

`48: Set-piece right side cross from Zakaric, NR Miletic heads it over the bar

`51: Poor left-footed angled drive in the box from NG Miletic wide

`52: More brilliant play from Zakaric followed by 18m shot wide

`59: Erkin cautioned

`62: Erkin`s header just wide

`65: Arslan cautioned

`66: Scekic in for Kosovic

`74: Nikolic in for Ricardo (knock)

`76 Roco in for Pepe

`79: Tore in for Quaresma

`80: Nikolic cautioned (roughing)

`90: Four mins added time

`90+2: Larin cautioned

`90+5: Final whistle

Partizan boss Zoran Mirkovic after the game:

– It was a tough game with lots of tackles around. We knew who we are dealing with and a bit of careless defending led to Besiktas goal. Boys played quite well although in some parts we rushed things instead of playing an organized game but there was lot of desire present. We managed a draw only but we not out for the count yet.

I can be pleased with our performance, desire and fighting spirit. We tried our best until the very end and we wanted to win. We can always play better but we created quite a few opportunities. It was determination and fighting spirit that really stood out.