Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga, round 27 fixture
Venue: Partizan Stadium
Kick-off time: 6.05pm CET
Referee: Milan Ilic
Yellow cards: DJ Jovanovic (PAR), Lakicevic (NP)
GOALS: 1-0 `5 Nikolic, 2-0 `30 Filipovic, 2-1 `68 Opara, 3-1 `71 Natcho, 3-2 `84 Kovacevic
Teams:
PARTIZAN
A Jovanovic, Roganovic, Ilic, Mujakic, Jurcevic (Filipovic 30), Scekic, Kovac, Zubairu (Goh HT), Natcho (Vukotic 87), Kalulu (Alilovic 57), Nikolic ( DJ Jovanovic HT)
NOVI PAZAR
Samcovic, Lakicevic, Rubezic, Mrsic, Miletic, Cisse (Ziljkic HT), Vidakovic, Adeshina (Kovacevic 53), Islamovic, Stojanovic (Alic HT), Opara (Mary 81)
Partizan extended winning run to three by beating Novi Pazar 3-2 at home.
Ilic and Natcho returned to the starting line-up for Partizan at the expense of youngster Ilic and winter signing Vukotic.
Partizan took an early lead on 5. Kovac won midfield possession and played a timely ball to the right for Kalulu who instantly played it into the box for Nikolic who scored from close range to make it Partizan 1, Novi Pazar 0.
It was sixth goal from five consecutive games for Nikolic and another assist for ever-lively Kalulu who played another great low pass on 12 but Zubairu`s shot from the heart of the box was saved by well-positioned keeper – a great opportunity for Partizan to double the lead missed!
Visitors replied on 14 when Opara managed to beat his markers but sent a weak edge-of-the-box shot for a comfortable save from keeper Jovanovic.
On 19, Opara was in action again but Roganovic made a last gasp clearance to prevent visitors from threatening Partizan net.
Jurcevic injured himself just before the half-an-hour mark. In came Filipovic who got on a scoresheet straight away, heading the ball in after neat and sharp set-piece ball from Natcho. Partizan 2, Novi Pazar 0.
Ilic made a great block from Vidakovic`s angled shot just before half-time whistle.
Boss Blagojevic made two more subs at half-time. In came Goh and DJ Jovanovic for Zubairu and Nikolic.
Visitors showed attacking intentions after the break but never really troubled keeper Jovanovic much early in the second half.
Boss Blagojegic made another forced sub on 57 as Kalulu looked like picking up muscle injury. In came youngster Alilovic.
On the hour, Natcho beat his marker to create shooting position but sent the ball wide of the right post with his measured edge-of-the-boc effort.
Novi Pazar halved the deficit on 68 when Opara managed to head the ball into the left corner of the net. Partizan 2, Novi Pazar 1.
Partizan was back to two-goal lead three mins later. Kovac`s pass into the box reached Natcho who sent a measured 11m angled shot into the top right corner of the net. Partizan 3, Novi Pazar 1.
Alilovic`s left-footed edge-of-the-box strike was saved by the Novi Pazar keeper on 76.
Novi Pazar kept attacking and they were rewarded on 84 after some neat passing reached Partizan defence off-guard for sub Kovacevic to sent the ball into the left corner of the net with his fine strike inside the box. Partizan 3, Novi Pazar 2.
Vukotic came in for Natcho on 87 while visitors had final opportunity to equalize on 90 when Zbiljic headed the ball dangerously wide of the right post.
Partizan remains comfortably second-placed at the SSL standings with next fixture being Cukaricki away.
