Serbian Cup, one-legged semi-final tie
Venue: Rajko Mitic Stadium
Kick-off time: 7pm CET
Referee: Milos Milanovic
Yellow cards: Stamenic, Olayinka (CZ) – Markovic, Bazdar, Filipovic (PAR)
GOALS: 1-0 `29 Filipovic (og), 2-0 `30 Olayinka
Teams:
CRVENA ZVEZDA
Glazer, Mijailovic, Dragovic, Spajic, Rodic, Stamenic, Hwang, Bukari (`68 Katai), Ivanic, Olayinka, (`79 Djiga), Ndiaye (`87 Krasso)
Jovanovic, Filipovic, Kovacevic (`HT Markovic), Antic (`72 Saldanha), Owusu, Zahid, Goh (`63 Natcho), Severina (`63 Jankovic), Kalulu (`56 Nikolic), Bazdar
Belgrade, April 24
Partizan lost 2-0 to Crvena Zvezda away and failed to reach Serbian Cup final.
Partizan started another match away to bitter rivals with Jovanovic back between the posts and Filipovic on the right-back position instead of Stojkovic. Bazdar remained starter before recently recovered Saldanha.
Prior to the kick-off, Partizan skipper Markovic received a caution as Partizan players staged a protest resulting in a slightly postponed start of the game.
It was a bright opening for Partizan. Our team dominated early possession, had number of corner-kicks that came to nothing, and we had to wait until 15th minute for the first big opportunity – Goh`s low, angled drive towards the near post was met by the tip of the fingers save from stretched-out keeper Glazer.
Home side took the lead with the first shot on target. Actually, the ball hit Filipovic to go into the net after the return far post ball from Olayinka.
Minute later, hosts doubled the lead in a similar manner – left side cross onto the far post with unmarked Olayinka now scoring himself, smashing the ball into the net from close range.
Both teams had good opportunities on 38 and 39 respectively but Stamenic and Bazdar were waved offside although both keepers made brilliant saves.
Skipper Markovic had to be subbed at half-time with a knee injury. Stojkovic came in for Markovic to take over right-back position while Filipovic moved centrally.
Before the hour mark, hosts had three good opportunities – Olayinka missed the target on 52, Jovanovic made two saves from Ivanic on 58, while shots from Ndiaye and Olayinka on 60 inside the box were blocked by Partizan defenders.
Nikolic came in for Kalulu on 56 and he created the only Partizan opportunity of the second half but his tricky low shot was met by a stretched-out tip-of-the-finger save from Glazer.
Jankovic and Natcho came in for Goh and Severina on 63 while Saldanha came in for Antic on 72 as the last gasp attacking sub.
Partizan did have more possession after this final sub but failed to create much.
On the other side, counter-attacking hosts created three more opportunities before the final whistle but keeper Jovanovic showed his quality once more.
Partizan will resume SSL duties next weekend, playing home to TSC.
