Partizan lose 2-0 to Cukaricki, Ilic gives no statement
Milan Djokovic scored both goals with his head, Cukaricki won at Humska for the first time in ten years, and coach Sasa Ilic did not speak to reporters.
After the final whistle at Humska, Sasa Ilic went straight to the dressing room and never appeared in front of Arena Sport reporter Dijana Radulovic. His assistant, Velicko Kaplanovic, faced the cameras instead of the Partizan coach. The scoreboard read Partizan - Cukaricki 0-2, the result of a round 13 SuperLiga match played on Saturday, October 24.
How did Cukaricki decide the match before halftime?
The visitors could have led as early as the fourth minute. On a two-on-one break, Uros Miladinovic did not pass to the completely unmarked Lazar Markovic and instead shot wide of Marko Milosevic’s goal.
The lead came in the 34th minute. Marko Docic delivered an excellent cross from the left, and Milan Djokovic beat Milosevic with a header from five meters. The second goal came in first-half stoppage time and in the same way: after a cross from Uros Nikolic, Djokovic was the tallest man in the box and headed in again from seven meters. Sources disagree on the exact moment, so the second goal is recorded as either 45+2 or 45+3.
The gap could have been wider by the break. Partizan goalkeeper Milosevic made several saves, so Cukaricki went into the dressing room two goals up rather than three.
Whistles at halftime and a better second half
Partizan fans whistled as the players left the pitch for the break. Ilic responded in the 46th minute with four substitutions, and his team played better after the restart and created a few chances, mainly through Erik Kojzek.
In the 81st minute, Kojzek got the ball back from a rebound and shot weakly from about ten meters straight into the arms of goalkeeper Vladan Carapic. Just a minute later, Zubair was left completely alone four meters out and sent the ball high over the bar. The young Carapic was excellent in the second half and kept a clean sheet, so Partizan could not even pull one back.
Where does Partizan stand after the seventh defeat?
This is Partizan’s seventh loss of the season. The black-and-whites have played 12 matches, one fewer than the number of rounds, and have three wins, two draws and seven defeats, which makes 11 points with a goal difference of 18-22. Mondo reports that this is the second-worst defense in the league. Una and B92 put them tenth, level on points with OFK Belgrade and one point ahead of Macva (10), while Kurir has them eleventh. Zemun are at the bottom with six points.
Cukaricki reached 18 points and sixth place with the win, and so beat Partizan away for the first time in ten years. Red Star Belgrade lead with 34 points from 12 matches and play OFK Belgrade on Sunday, and Vojvodina are second with 28 points.
Ilic stays silent, Kaplanovic speaks
Ilic gave no statement to TV Arena Sport either. Kaplanovic spoke in his place:
“I can’t tell you anything except to congratulate Cukaricki on a deserved win, everything else today is simply a disgrace.”
Telegraf carried Kaplanovic’s words in a shorter version (“I have nothing to say to you. Congratulations to Cukaricki on a deserved win. Nothing more”), so the exact wording differs from source to source. In both versions, the congratulation to Cukaricki sits in the same place.
Ilic’s absence in front of the cameras set off speculation about a resignation. A similar situation followed the defeat in Lucani in August, when Partizan lost 3-1 to Mladost in round 6. Kaplanovic also spoke in place of the coach then, and Ilic reportedly offered to resign but stayed on the bench. In the sources we reviewed, the club names no decision, so the resignation is for now only speculation.
Partizan’s next match is on Wednesday, October 28, against Radnicki in Nis. Mondo notes that after this game the question will arise whether Ilic will lead the team on that trip as well.
