MSL: Partizan gatecrash OFK birthday party

Partizan beat OFK Beograd at Karaburma to extend their lead at the top of the MSL to five points. Partizan underlined their title credentials yesterday afternoon by maintaining their one-hundred percent record with a gutsy 1-0 derby win against OFK Belgrade in Karaburma, on the occasion of the Romantics’ 96th birthday. MSL: Partizan gatecrash OFK birthday party The visitors’ match winner was once again Montenegrin international Stevan Jovetic, who put a dampener on the home side’s festivities scoring the decisive goal in the 56th minute. In front of a crowd of some 8,000, the two clubs treated the fans to one of the MSL’s best matches of the season so far, with a display of end-to-end attacking football. The best chance of the first half fell to the home side, when 17-year old Nenad Krstic narrowly failed to convert a right-wing cross, his diving header crashing off the crossbar to safety. At the other end, Jovetic also had an excellent chance when through one-on-one with the keeper, but Bozovic in the OFK goal saved well. However, eleven minutes after the break, there was nothing the keeper could do, as the Montenegrin finished off a lightning counter-attack, fast becoming a hallmark of the Humska side’s play. The move started at the back with keeper Ilic releasing Jovetic along the left, who beat a couple of players before crossing for Djordje Lazic. Although the striker was unable to control the ball first time, he managed to retain possession, cut back inside, and slipped the ball back to Jovetic who had continued his run. From fourteen meters, he proceeded to rifle an unstoppable left-foot shot into the keeper’s top right hand corner, sending the visiting fans into delirium. Despite their best efforts, OFK were unable to get back into the game, and indeed Lazic, Jovetic, and Zuka all had good chances to double Partizan’s lead. Partizan thus notched up their sixth consecutive win in all competitions, and while their detractors – mostly those of a red-and-white persuasion - point to the fact that their opponents so far this season have been, at best, sub-standard, the fact remains that the Humska club have dispatched everything that has been put in front of them, and have done so with a minimum of fuss and maximum efficiency. Moreover, two of those victories – away to Vojvodina and OFK – have been against the two clubs generally recognized as the closest challengers to the domination of the "eternal rivals". And, in Montenegrin Jovetic, they unquestionably possess one of the league’s brightest talents, the kind of player that the defending champions Red Star – not to mention Serbia - so desperately currently lack. As for the defending champions, they were finally able to kick-start their season on Saturday at the Marakana, managing to score two goals in a competitive match for the first time since May. Spurred by the arrival of new signing Nenad Jestrovic, Red Star were able to at least partly shake off their Champion’s League midweek disappoint, as Ognjen Koroman notched up his third goal of the season and Segundo Castillo his first, to give them a 2-0 win to lift them into second. In the weekend’s other matches, Smederevo joined Red Star and OFK on the seven-point mark, winning 1-0 at home to Hajduk, thanks to a thunderous Cukic drive from 25 meters, undoubtedly the goal of the week, if not the season. In Krusevac, Vojvodina finally registered their first win of the season against Napredak, with a Kacar injury-time winner. Earlier, on Saturday, Cukaricki had moved off the foot of the table with a 2-1 home win against Banat, with goals from Popovic and Bojovic cancelling out a Mikic strike for the visitors. Finally, to complete yet another low-scoring weekend in the MSL, a 31st minute Aganovic gave Mladost a 1-0 win against Borac in Lucani in the Sumadija derby. This season, after 22 league matches altogether, only 34 goals have been scored, making the MSL one of Europe’s most goal-shy leagues. Lamina Diara (FoNet)

MSL: Partizan gatecrash OFK birthday party

The visitors’ match winner was once again Montenegrin international Stevan Jovetić, who put a dampener on the home side’s festivities scoring the decisive goal in the 56th minute.

In front of a crowd of some 8,000, the two clubs treated the fans to one of the MSL’s best matches of the season so far, with a display of end-to-end attacking football.

The best chance of the first half fell to the home side, when 17-year old Nenad Krstić narrowly failed to convert a right-wing cross, his diving header crashing off the crossbar to safety.

At the other end, Jovetić also had an excellent chance when through one-on-one with the keeper, but Božović in the OFK goal saved well.

However, eleven minutes after the break, there was nothing the keeper could do, as the Montenegrin finished off a lightning counter-attack, fast becoming a hallmark of the Humska side’s play. The move started at the back with keeper Ilić releasing Jovetić along the left, who beat a couple of players before crossing for Đorđe Lazić.

Although the striker was unable to control the ball first time, he managed to retain possession, cut back inside, and slipped the ball back to Jovetić who had continued his run. From fourteen meters, he proceeded to rifle an unstoppable left-foot shot into the keeper’s top right hand corner, sending the visiting fans into delirium.

Despite their best efforts, OFK were unable to get back into the game, and indeed Lazić, Jovetić, and Žuka all had good chances to double Partizan’s lead.

Partizan thus notched up their sixth consecutive win in all competitions, and while their detractors – mostly those of a red-and-white persuasion - point to the fact that their opponents so far this season have been, at best, sub-standard, the fact remains that the Humska club have dispatched everything that has been put in front of them, and have done so with a minimum of fuss and maximum efficiency.

Moreover, two of those victories – away to Vojvodina and OFK – have been against the two clubs generally recognized as the closest challengers to the domination of the "eternal rivals". And, in Montenegrin Jovetić, they unquestionably possess one of the league’s brightest talents, the kind of player that the defending champions Red Star – not to mention Serbia - so desperately currently lack.

As for the defending champions, they were finally able to kick-start their season on Saturday at the Marakana, managing to score two goals in a competitive match for the first time since May.

Spurred by the arrival of new signing Nenad Jestrović, Red Star were able to at least partly shake off their Champion’s League midweek disappoint, as Ognjen Koroman notched up his third goal of the season and Segundo Castillo his first, to give them a 2-0 win to lift them into second.

In the weekend’s other matches, Smederevo joined Red Star and OFK on the seven-point mark, winning 1-0 at home to Hajduk, thanks to a thunderous Čukić drive from 25 meters, undoubtedly the goal of the week, if not the season.

In Kruševac, Vojvodina finally registered their first win of the season against Napredak, with a Kačar injury-time winner.

Earlier, on Saturday, Čukarički had moved off the foot of the table with a 2-1 home win against Banat, with goals from Popović and Bojović cancelling out a Mikić strike for the visitors.

Finally, to complete yet another low-scoring weekend in the MSL, a 31st minute Aganović gave Mladost a 1-0 win against Borac in Lučani in the Šumadija derby. This season, after 22 league matches altogether, only 34 goals have been scored, making the MSL one of Europe’s most goal-shy leagues.