Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga round 35, play-off round 5
Venue: Partizan Stadium
Kick-off time: 4.30pm CET
Referee: Predrag Janjus
Yellow cards: Pejovic (MLA)
GOALS: 1-0 `41 Natcho, 2-0 `86 Saldanha, 3-0 `90+3 Bazdar
Teams:
PARTIZAN
Jovanovic, Stojkovic, Kovacevic, Sanicanin, Antic, Owusu, Natcho, Zahid (`66 Castillo), Severina (`80 Jankovic), Kalulu (`80 Goh), Saldanha (`87 Bazdar)
Samcevic (`35 Stamenkovic), Andric, Joksimovic (`35 Zunic), Lekovic (`80 Pribakovic), Varjacic (`77 Divac), Tumbasevic, Pejovic, Cirkovic, Udovicic, Bojic (`HT Silue), Velickovic
Belgrade, May 12
Partizan finally ended poor streak of results by winning Mladost 3-0 at home.
Saldanha was back among the starters after one-game suspension while Sanicanin made a rare start at the back.
Partizan attacking intentions were clear from the go while visitors opted for behind the ball tactics.
Zahid was first to threat Mladost but he sent the ball over the bar from his edge of the box effort on 3.
Saldanha scored two mins later but the goal was disallowed after the VAR review due to an offside position.
Natcho made a fine run on 12 but lacked final pass while visitors had one of the rare promising first half counter-attacks on 14 but Varjacic sent a wild cross and made it easy for Partizan defence to clear possible danger.
On 26, Mladost keeper saved uncomfortable angled shot from Stojkovic, while shots from Zahid and Saldanha in the follow-up were blocked by Mladost players.
Mladost keeper made a comfortable save from Severina`s shot on 28 while two minutes later awful clash of heads saw Mladost keeper and defender depart the field unable to return – defender Joksimovic had to be hospitalized as a result.
Saldanha made a solo angled run on 39 but Cirkovic chased him down and managed to win a goal-kick for his team.
Kalulu sent a measured 20m shot on 40 just over the bar and minute later he made a final pass for Natcho to score but it need a VAR review to confirm Kalulu was not offside in a build-up for Partizan to finally take the lead. Partizan 1, Mladost 0.
It remained 1-0 after the first half 6 mins of stoppage time and after the break it was Saldanha who was the liveliest of the bunch early on. He made couple of right side solo runs to trouble visitors and missed a clear-cut opportunity on 55 as well, trying to casually tap the ball in from close range for keeper to make a save.
Visitors searched for equalizer and made a couple of fine opportunities around the hour mark but keeper Jovanovic made excellent saves.
Castillo came in for Zahid on 66 and sent a fine shot just over the bar on 72 while Partizan keeper Jovanovic made another great save on 76.
Partizan boss Nadj made two more subs on 80 – Goh and Jankovic coming in for Kalulu and Severina.
Mladost keeper made a comfortable save from Saldanha shot on 84 but he was powerless to stop brilliantly neat 86th minute 20m effort from Brazilian striker. Partizan 2, Mladost 0.
Saldanha was subbed moments later and sub Bazdar managed to get on a scoresheet in stoppage time – he was awarded for his persistence by stealing the ball off hesitant Mladost keeper to make it Partizan 3, Mladost 0 just before the final whistle.
Partizan remains second-placed at the standings, two points ahead of third-placed TSC. There are two games remaining before the end of the season and Partizan is left to play Cukaricki away and Radnicki 1923 home.