Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga, round 24 fixture
Venue: Rajko Mitic Stadium
Kick-off time: 4pm CET kick-off
Referee: Nenad Minakovic
Yellow cards: Seol (CZ) – Sehovic, Zubairu, Mujakic (PAR)
GOALS: 0-1 `8 Zubairu, 1-1 `46 Ndiaye, 2-1 `Ndiaye, 2-2 `59 Kovac, 3-2 `62 Ivanic, 3-3 `90+5 Nikolic (p)
Teams:
CRVENA ZVEZDA
Gutesa, Seol, Djuric, Milosavljevic, Annan, Krunic, Elsnik, Silas (Radonjic HT), Maksimovic (Milson 66), Ivanic, Ndiaye (Duarte 76)
PARTIZAN
A Jovanovic, Simic, Ilic, Mujakic, Roganovic (Stjepanovic 86), Sehovic (Nikolic 68), Scekic, Kovac (Vukotic 86), Kalulu, Zubairu (Goh 52), Dj Jovanovic (Natcho 68)
Beograd, Feb 22
Partizan picked a point away to Crvena Zvezda after a six-goal thriller in a 175th edition of Eternal Belgrade derby.
Boss Blagojevic decided to start with three at the back and two wing-backs, giving a rare start to left-back Sehovic while Mujakic returned from injury to take the left centre-back position. Blagojevic also opted to Djordje Jovanovic upfront and to leave playmakers Natcho and Vukotic on the bench.
These counter-attack tactics paid off on 8 after hard work down the right by Kalulu who beat two markers to send the inviting cross for charging Zubairu whose initial shot was saved by the keeper but Ghanian winger was first to the rebound to send the ball into the net from close range. CZ 0, Partizan 1.
Hosts were dominating possession and Ivanic sent the ball high over the bar on 12 while Ndiaye had a great opportunity on 22 but his close range header was brilliantly saved by keeper Jovanovic.
Lively Kalulu worked through home side defence on 25 but his tricky angled shot inside the box was saved by alerted keeper Gutesa.
Hosts also had a couple of free-kick shots wide from promising positions and after soft foul decisions. Sehovic received a booking after the second free-kick decision was given and a bit of scuffle involving large number of players from both sides occurred.
Ndiaye`s header on 41 ended over the bar as home side kept their pressure on Partizan defensive lines.
Still, it was 1-0 Partizan at half-time after a brave defensive performance from the lads and a really good tactical first-half performance.
But, everything went down the drain early in the second half as hosts equalized straight after the break. Long was travelling long from Maksimovic`s right flank cross and Ndiaye managed to put his foot out to tap the ball in inside the 6-yard box and in-between two Partizan defenders. CZ 1, Partizan 1.
Home side took the lead five mins later, this time it was a rare defensive error from keeper Jovanovic allow Ndiaye to score a brace. CZ 2, Partizan 1.
To make it even worse for Partizan, lively Zubairu had to subbed on 52 due to an injury, In came Goh.
Partizan came forward in search for an equalizer and our boys were rewarded on 59 after a fine build-up, neat inviting cross from Roganovic and header into the net from Kovac. CZ 2, Partizan 2.
Sadly, the lead didn`t last long. Home side took another lead just three mins later – Ivanic found some shooting space inside the box and sent a neat angled drive into the bottom left corner of the net. CZ 3, Partizan 2.
Boss Blagojevic introduced Natcho and Nikolic for Djordje Jovanovic and Sehovic on 68, looking to get more of an attacking passing game and control of the ball overall, which was clearly lacking so far. As a result, Partizan switched to back four instead of three.
Hosts kept attacking and it took some brave defending from preventing them extending the lead on couple of occasions.
Partizan took over the possession in the last 10-15 mins of the game and boss Blagojevic made his final subs on 86 introducing Vukotic and Stjepanovic for Kovac and Roganovic, adding to the attacking power of the team.
Two mins into the stoppage time, Natcho was brought down inside the box and VAR review confirmed what seasoned Israeli playmaker was asking for – a penalty-kick!! As Natcho was unable to take it himself, due to a intensity of the foul committed, in stepped sub Nikolic who beat CZ keeper emphatically for Crvena Zvezda 3, Partizan 3 final score.
