Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga, play-off round 1 (round 31)
Venue: Rajko MItic Stadium
Kick-off time: 6pm CET
Referee: Pavle Ilic
Yellow cards: Krasso, Glazer (CZ) – Owusu, Kovacevic, Kalulu, Markovic (PAR)
GOALS: 0-1 `11 Bazdar, 1-1 `16 Kanga (p), 1-2 `57 Severina 2-2 `90 Ndiaye, 3-2 `90+9 Katai (p)
Teams:
CRVENA ZVEZDA
Glazer, Mijailovic, Dragovic, Spajic, Rodic (`HT Djiga), Stamenic, Bukari (`90+11 Krasso), Kanga (`59 Katai), Hwang, Ivanic, Olayinka, Ndiaye (`90+11 Milunovic)
PARTIZAN
Krunic, Stojkovic (`78 Filipovic), Kovacevic, Markovic, Antic, Owusu, Castillo (`67 Stjepanovic), Zahid, Goh (`78 Kalulu), Severina (`88 Natcho), Bazdar (`67 Saldanha)
Belgrade, April 20
Partizan lost 3-2 to Crvena Zvezda in after another late drama and some dubious ref`s decisions.
With boss Duljaj suspended, assistant Albert Nadj took over the dugout and had to do without his injured first-choice keeper Jovanovic.
Partizan looked bright early in the game. Severina sent two shots wide while Bazdar`s strike inside the box was brilliantly saved by stretched-out keeper Glazer.
Bukari missed a good opportunity for hosts on 9 and Partizan scored the opening goal two mins later after a looping cross from Stojkovic and far post header into the back of the net by Bazdar. Crvena Zvezda 0, Partizan 1.
Home side equalized five minutes later. Kovacevic lost possession under pressure, Ivanovic stormed into the box and won a penalty for his side after a clash with Partizan keeper Krunic. Kanga scored from the spot although Krunic was quite close to save it. Crvena Zvezda 1, Partizan 1.
Ndiaye volleyed the ball over the bar inside the box on 21 while Goh replied hitting the post on 29 with his low angled drive. Two mins later, Ivanic sent the ball wide with his angled effort inside the box.
Bukari missed the target on 38 and keeper Krunic saved his angled shot inside the box just before half-time whistle.
Second half was not so eventful in the opening 10 mins before Severina made it 2-1 for Partizan on 57 with a brilliant angled strike off the post and into the far corner of the net.
Three mins later, Krunic made brilliant save from Ndiaye`s close range header. Same player headed the ball wide on 67.
Castillo picked up a head injury and had to subbed on 67 with youngster Stjepanovic entering the field. Bazdar made way for returnee Saldanha on 67 as well.
Hosts did score on 69 but after the VAR review it was clear Ndiaye was offside.
Kalulu and Stojkovic came in for Goh and Stojkovic on 78 while Krunic made another brilliant save on 85 preventing Hwang from scoring.
Natcho came in for Severina on 88 as final Partizan sub.
Ndiaye equalized for hosts on 90 with Partizan players protesting as it appeared CZ forward fouled Markovic in the process. However, the goal stood – Crvena Zvezda 2, Partizan 2.
Deep into stoppage time, home side was awarded another penalty-kick for more protests from Partizan players as they felt if there was a foul at all, it was outside the box. Referee stood to his decision, Katai scored from the spot with Krunic guessing where the ball was to go but could not get a touch. Crvena Zvezda 3, Partizan 2.
After a total of 20 minutes stoppage time, it remained 3-2 for hosts with Partizan unfortunate to get a point at least. Moreover, there`ll be much talk about some crucial ref`s decisions in favor of hosts.
