29.07.10

Superb Partizan ease past Helsinki, edge step closer to CL

Partizan football team have beaten Finnish team HJK Helsinki comfortably 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round. On target for the Serbian champions were Ivica Iliev after eight minutes, Sasa Ilic (42) and Cleo (90). The second leg is played next Wednesday in Helsinki.

There were around 20,000 Partizan fans gathered at the ground, with the perfect weather to play some European football in Belgrade. Returnee Ivica Iliev got the nod in the starting line-up ahead of Marko Scepovic.

Partizan were aggressive and attack-minded from the onset, using their attacks through Iliev. Elsewhere, another summer signing, Milan Smiljanic, was not used for the match.

Partizan opened their account on 8 minutes when Petrovic sent the ball to the right flank to Tomic. After the cross, Fowler was at odds dealing with it and the ball fell nicely to Iliev.

Although visibly some time away from full fitness, Iliev beat his man with ease and beat Helskinki goalkeeper Wallen from an acute angle.
The black-whites then turned their attack up a notch, as the shaken Helsinki team struggled to defend their goal.

In the period that ensued, Helsinki were still struggling to connect a pass or two, with every loose ball picked up by Partizan's central midfielders Ilic and Moreira, sending them instantly to Lazevski or Cleo.

Although he scored a goal and put in a tremendous effort in the game, Iliev looked unfit to last all 90 minutes.

Zeneli left the game injured for Helsinki, as the Finnish champion brought on Westo. Partizan were still dictating the tempo of the game and it was at that time obvious Partizan's second-round opposition of Pyunik may well have been a more substantial obstacle than Helsinki.

It was all very quiet until the 36th minute, when Iliev could have doubled the host team's lead. However his shot was deflected and eventually cleared from the goal-line by goalkeeper Wallen.

Helsinki evidently focused on their defensive duties, without any attacking forays to boast about. It was only a matter of whether take the tie to Finland with a 1-0 win or a more relaxing margin.

In the dying moments of the first half Partizan finally doubled the lead with Tomic once again providing a cross from the right. Cleo attracted one HJK defender, opening up space for Sasa Ilic, who crowned his forward run with a crisp volley to make it 2-0.

A downer from the first half was the injury of Partizan midfielder Almami Moreira, while the extent of the key player's injury is yet to be confirmed.

Helskinki made futile attempts in the second half attacking Radisa Ilic's goal, as Partizan could have gone 3-0 up on 58 minutes from the breakaway. Iliev burst down the right flank, shot fiercely from twenty meters, but the effort went over the crossbar.

Partizan's finest chance in the second half came through Cleo, who connected on cross, but saw his header brush against the post.
Branislav Jovanovic came on at that time for Sasa Ilic, while Krstajic was replaced by Stankovic.

After Helsinki managed to miss a clear-cut chance with the goal gaping open wide, Partizan's Davidov passed the ball to Cleo on 81 minutes, who in turn passed it to Petrovic, but the midfielder's shot with the side of his foot went flying over the crossbar.

As ninety minutes were drawing to a close, Partizan added another goal to make it a comfortable trip to Finland in a week's time. Cleo received the ball in Helsinki's half, looked around, failed to come up with an idea, then dribbled past his guard and finally sent a thunderous effort past Helsinki goalkeeper Wallen's back from 30 metres out.

The Serbian champions have accumulated a substantial lead going into the second leg away in Helsinki and are cruising on their way to the Champions League play-off round, ever eyeing the final destination - the elusive group stage.