Q:
A:
Partizan - Red Star 0-0
Belgrade,
17 April 2004
Red Star Belgrade stayed on course for their first league title in three years with a 0-0 draw against champions Partizan in a tense city derby on Saturday.
Author:
Fonet
Red Star stayed three points ahead of second-placed Partizan and firmly in the driving seat in a two-horse race for the Serbia and Montenegro championship with four matches remaining.
Chances in a match littered with fouls were few and far between but Partizan were unlucky not to take a seventh minute lead when striker Ivica Iliev netted, only to be ruled offside by the linesman.
Television replays showed Iliev was well onside when skipper Vladimir Ivic played a defence-splitting pass to put him through and the striker complained bitterly after the match.
"There was no question of offside and this bad decision directly affected the course and the outcome of the match," Iliev told reporters.
Partizan had the upper hand but Red Star always looked more likely to score and very nearly did so on the hour, when international midfielder Dragan Mladenovic saw his shot cleared off the line by Albert Nadj.
Partizan threw men forward in search of a winner in the closing stages and were almost caught in the 89th minute when goalkeeper Ivica Kralj pulled off a fine save to tip Nikola Zigic's header against the underside of the bar.
Red Star manager Slavoljub Muslin said the outcome was fair and praised his team for a committed performance.
"They had the upper hand and we had the better chances so the result is fair. It was a well balanced game and I congratulate my players for a spirited performance in this difficult match," he said.
His opposite number Vladimir Vermezovic said Partizan would fight for their third successive title till the bitter end.
"Red Star played for a draw and got it, we gave all we had but it wasn't enough today. The title race is not over and we won't give up while there is a mathematical chance of retaining the silverware."
The two sides meet again on Wednesday at Red Star's Marakana stadium in a cup semi-final and the winners will start as strong favourites against either Obilic Belgrade or Buducnost Banatski Dvor in the final.
Chances in a match littered with fouls were few and far between but Partizan were unlucky not to take a seventh minute lead when striker Ivica Iliev netted, only to be ruled offside by the linesman.
Television replays showed Iliev was well onside when skipper Vladimir Ivic played a defence-splitting pass to put him through and the striker complained bitterly after the match.
"There was no question of offside and this bad decision directly affected the course and the outcome of the match," Iliev told reporters.
Partizan had the upper hand but Red Star always looked more likely to score and very nearly did so on the hour, when international midfielder Dragan Mladenovic saw his shot cleared off the line by Albert Nadj.
Partizan threw men forward in search of a winner in the closing stages and were almost caught in the 89th minute when goalkeeper Ivica Kralj pulled off a fine save to tip Nikola Zigic's header against the underside of the bar.
Red Star manager Slavoljub Muslin said the outcome was fair and praised his team for a committed performance.
"They had the upper hand and we had the better chances so the result is fair. It was a well balanced game and I congratulate my players for a spirited performance in this difficult match," he said.
His opposite number Vladimir Vermezovic said Partizan would fight for their third successive title till the bitter end.
"Red Star played for a draw and got it, we gave all we had but it wasn't enough today. The title race is not over and we won't give up while there is a mathematical chance of retaining the silverware."
The two sides meet again on Wednesday at Red Star's Marakana stadium in a cup semi-final and the winners will start as strong favourites against either Obilic Belgrade or Buducnost Banatski Dvor in the final.
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