Partizan progress with Shirak stalemate
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
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FK Partizan 0-0 FC Shirak (agg: 1-1 )
A goalless stalemate in Belgrade proved enough for the hosts – reduced to ten men in the second half – to advance on away goals.
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The away-goals rule proved the salvation of FK Partizan, who progressed to the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round despite failing to score at home against FC Shirak and having a man sent off.
Vladimir Volkov's last-gasp equaliser in the first leg ultimately secured his team a place in the next round, but he could have cost his team with his 55th-minute dismissal in front of his own fans.
It was certainly a frustrating evening for the Partizan supporters. Vuk Rašovic's team repeatedly squandered promising opportunities, finding Artur Harutyunyan unbeatable when they did manage to steer an effort on goal. The keeper was in fine fettle to deny Filip Malbašić and Predrag Luka in particular.
That said, the Serbian champions never looked like coming out on the losing side. Vardan Bichakhchyan's visitors themselves managed to muster just one shot on target in the 90 minutes and it is Partizan who can now prepare for a meeting with Bulgaria's PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the next round.
