Partizan – Hibernian 0:2 (0:1)
Stadium: Partizan.
Referee: Philip Farrugia (Malta).
Scorers: Boyle 40, 70
Red card: Vukasin Djurdjevic (Partizan) in the 34th minute.
PARTIZAN: M. Milosevic, Roganovic, Simic, Djurdjevic, Jurcevic, Dragojevic (from 86’ Karabelyov), Ugresic (from 75’ B. Kostic), Seck (from 46’ Milic), Vukotic, Trifunovic (from 86’ Kalulu), J. Milosevic (from 86’ A. Kostic).
HIBERNIAN: Smith, O’Hara, Bushiri, Iredale, Cadden, Levitt (from 75’ Meneh), Mulligan (from 46’ Campbell), Obita, Boyle (from 75’ Hoylet), McGrath, Bowie (from 83’ Youan).
Partizan’s players were defeated by Scottish side Hibernian in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round, heading to Edinburgh next week with a two-goal deficit – 0:2 (0:1).
Neither did Partizan deserve such a convincing loss, nor did the 26,642 fans in attendance leave disappointed with their team’s display. Aggression, commitment, and fighting spirit against physically stronger opponents were at a high level, and this did not change even in the final hour, during which the guests had a man advantage.
Until the 34th minute and Vukasin Djurdjevic’s second yellow card, everything was going in the Steamroller’s favor – the play, the dominance, and the number of created chances.
Just seconds before the defender’s dismissal, Milan Vukotic missed a golden opportunity to put Partizan ahead. The Montenegrin international tried twice to beat the Scottish keeper, but both attempts were blocked. In the counterattack, Partizan lost their young defender, and six minutes later, the visitors turned their numerical advantage into the opening goal.
In the second half, following a VAR intervention, Hibernian were awarded a penalty, which Martin Boyle converted into his second goal of the match. The Scottish team had one or two more serious chances, but for most of the time, the ball was in their half.
Partizan’s players kept pressing as if they were the ones with a man more and, if nothing else, deserved at least a goal – and they had the chances to do so.
As it stands, Partizan will travel to Scotland with a two-goal deficit, but based on the performance shown tonight, they can still hope for progression.
