Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga, round 24
Venue: Rajko Mitic Stadium
Kick-off time: 5pm CET
Referee: Pavle Ilic
Yellow cards: Kanga, Hwang (CZ) – Kalulu, Saldanha, Severina, Natcho, Jovanovic (PAR)
Red cards: Severina (PAR)
GOALS: 1-0 `44 Spajic, 1-1 `45+2 Saldanha, 1-2 `49 Kalulu, 2-2 `67 Ndiaye
Teams:
CRVENA ZVEZDA
Glazer, Mijailovic, Spajic, Dragovic (`30 Djiga), Rodic, Stamenic (`56 Mimovic), Kanga (`56 Olayinka), Hwang, Bukari, Ivanovic (`76 Katai), Ndiaye
PARTIZAN
Jovanovic, Stojkovic, Markovic, Kovacevic, Antic, Owusu, Zahid (`52 Castillo), Natcho (`63 Bazdar), Kalulu (`82 Filipovic), Goh, Saldanha (`63 Severina)
Belgrade, March 9
Partizan draw 2-2 away to bitter rivals Crvena Zvezda to remain top of the SSL standings.
It was an eventful 172nd edition of Eternal Belgrade derby with hosts having the better share of opportunities while Partizan proved clinical at the other end.
Home side had number of opportunities in opening 15 mins while Partizan threatened on 14 when fine Markovic`s header after the Natcho`s corner-kick got saved by Glazer.
It remained one-sided affair opportunities-wise but hosts lost centre-back Dragovic to shoulder injury 30 minutes into the game.
Crvena Zvezda finally took the lead on 44. Sapjic was the quickest to react in the box after the corner-kick to smash the ball into the net from close range. Crvena Zvezda 1, Partizan 0.
However, Partizan equalized in the first half injury time. Goh stole possession on the left flank and sent an inviting cross towards the 6-yard box for charging Kalulu. Keeper Glazer cleared the ball only as far to ghosting Saldanha who sent a brilliant first-touch ball into the unguarded net. Crvena Zvezda 1, Partizan 1.
Partizan dominated early stages of the second half and Goh created a clear-cut opportunity for Natcho on 47 but shot from seasoned Israeli inside the boc was met by a brave defensive block.
Two mins later, Partizan took the lead. It was another great move from Goh followed by pinpoint through ball from Zahid and timely run and angled low shot into the far corner of the net from Kalulu. Crvena Zvezda 1, Partizan 2.
Not being fully fit or feeling discomfort, Partizan gradually had to sub some of the key players – Zahid on 51, Natcho and Saldanha on 63.
As a result, Crvena Zvezda equalized on 67 after another poor corner-kick defending. Ndiaye was left to head the ball into the net from close range.
One of the subs, Severina, got sent-off on 75 after two harsh yellow cards in succession.
10-man Partizan put up a brave defensive performance as hosts were looking for a winner. They missed a number of clear-cut opportunities in the process while Partizan keeper Jovanovic managed a half-a-dozen brilliant saves overall to help his side take that precious one point home.