Partizan beat Duisburg 14-13 on penalties in Euro Cup
Partizan erased a three-goal deficit in the third round of the Euro Cup qualifying tournament and plays Savona on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Partizan did not lead once until 15 seconds from the end. Then Vuk Andjelic scored from a penalty throw to give the black-and-whites their first lead, and Seifert’s equalizer for Duisburg came just before the final buzzer. The third-round match of the Euro Cup qualifying tournament ended 9-9 in regulation, and a penalty shootout decided it, which Partizan won 14-13.
How did Partizan get to 9-9?
The quarters went 2-2, 1-2, 2-2 and 4-3. Partizan won only the last one, and it arrived there trailing. The Germans led 6-3 early in the third quarter, and Sport Klub notes that Duisburg failed to score on one possession with a three-man advantage, after which Partizan also came up empty with a two-man advantage.
Heading into the final period the black-and-whites had cut the gap to 6-5, but Duisburg went up 7-5 straight away. That is when Andjelic took over the attack. He scored all four of Partizan’s goals in the last quarter, which means the four goals that ended regulation were everything Partizan managed in that stretch. His penalty throw 15 seconds from the end gave Partizan its first lead.
Partizan’s other scorers were Durutovic with two goals, and Conkic, Djokanovic and Papic with one each. For Duisburg, Seifert scored three, E. Meten two, and L. Meten, Gergeljfi, Nosnik and Dolf one apiece.
What happened in the penalty shootout?
Duisburg shot first, and Seifert put the visitors ahead at 9-10. Andjelic answered for 10-10, E. Meten restored the German lead, and Neskovic leveled at 11-11. In the third round goalkeeper Todorovski stopped a shot from Lenoks Meten. Partizan then scored through Durutovic and Pakaski, and Duisburg through Nosnik and Gergeljfi, leaving it 13-13.
Captain Filip Jankovic delivered the win for 14-13. Partizan converted all five of its shots in the shootout, and Duisburg four of five.
What does Partizan need against Savona?
After three rounds the table reads: Apolon Smirnis 6 points, Savona 6, Partizan 5, Duisburg 1, Sintez none. Savona beat Sintez 17-11 in the same round. Partizan meets Savona on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Qualification for the Euro Cup group stage is not formally confirmed. B92 reports that the outcome of the remaining matches could bring confirmation, while Sport Klub judges that advancing is almost certain. By its count, Partizan would be eliminated only if it loses to Savona while Sintez beats both Duisburg and Apolon Smirnis, which it considers highly unlikely. The remaining schedule includes Sintez against Duisburg, Apolon Smirnis against Savona and, on Sunday, Apolon Smirnis against Sintez.
For Partizan, the next date is therefore Sunday at 8:30 a.m., the match against Savona.
