Aleksandar Katai’s second half penalty gave Zvezda a point in the 163rd Večiti derbi match at Partizan. The red and whites will probably feel that they’ve done enough to earn all three points, but were held by a resolute Partizan side.
Ground: Stadion Partizan
Referee: Novak Simović
Goalscorers: Stevanović 5' - Katai 75 (pen)
Partizan: V. Stojković, Miljković, S. Marković (88 Vitas), Banjak, Urošević, Zdjelar, Natcho (62’ Smiljanić), Soumah (15’ L. Marković), Jojić (88’ Obradović), Stevanović (62’ Lutovac), Asano.
Substitutes: Stevanović, Vujačić, Vitas, Ostojić, Obradović, Smiljanić, D. Stojković, Pavlović, Lutovac, L. Marković, Štulić.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić (69’ Gajić), Degenek, Eraković, Rodić, Sanogo, Gavrić, Nikolić, Ben (69 Pavkov), Katai (90 Petrović), Falcinelli (84 Vukanović).
Substitutes: Popović, Gajić, Pankov, Pavkov, Milunović, Petrović, Simić, Hajdin, Spiridonović, Vukanović, Krstović.
Partizan managed to get in front early on after a good finish from young Filip Stevanović amid red and white confusion in defence.
But Zvezda looked determined to get back into the game, which gave us a good match at Stadion Partizan. Aleksandar Katai was instrumental in creating chances for the red and whites.
Our best chance of the first half came deep in the stoppage time as Miloš Degenek came just a whisker away from the equalizer with a good header.
Boss Dejan Stanković brought Srđan Spiridonović on for Željko Gavrić at the break in a bid to get a timely goal and it nearly paid off just five minutes into the second half as Marko Gobeljić hit the post after some good work down the right flank.
The action grew ever more choppy as fouls and injuries piled up with Partizan happy to defend deep and wait for their chance on the break.
Milan Pavkov was brought on with 20 minutes remaining to try and add some presence upfront.
Aleksandar Katai made it 1-1 from the spot on 75 minutes after Sekou Sanogo’s shirt was pulled in the Partizan’s box by Miloš Jojić. Our playmaker sent Vladimir Stojković the wrong way with a well-taken penalty.
Zvezda pushed forward for the remainder of the match, but a winner never came and the red and whites had to settle with a point.
We remain top of the Superliga and remain unbeaten after 11 matchdays. It would have been brilliant to make it 11 wins out of 11 at our biggest rival’s ground, but it wasn’t to be.