Away joy for brave Partizan

FK Partizan came from behind in Sweden to eliminate Djurgårdens IF on away goals and reach the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

Early goal
With the tie level at 1-1 after the first leg in Belgrade, Djurgården went into the lead in the tenth minute of the return after Rene Mekondele found Geert Den Ouden on the right of the penalty area and the forward’s cross was converted by Andreas Johansson.

Home side confident
Leading the way in the Swedish First Division 16 games into the season, Djurgården were full of confidence, and almost doubled their lead before the break when substitute Yanick Bapupa-Ngabu hit the crossbar with a clever lob.

Match transformed
After half-time, though, Partizan were a reborn side following coach Lothar Matthäus‘s introduction of former Yugoslavian international Ljubinko Drulovic. He quickly made an impact, setting up captain Saša Ilic to equalise from nine metres on 62 minutes. Soon after Partizan were in control.

Penalty converted
Five minutes after the leveller, Swedish international goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson fouled Partizan’s Milan Stojanoski in the penalty area and left-back Nebojša Malbaša converted to leave the home side needing to score twice.

Newcastle tie secured
Djurgården substitute Samuel Wowoah drew the aggregate scores level 13 minutes from time, but Partizan held the away-goals advantage and were able to close ranks and secure a fixture against English side Newcastle United FC with the first leg in Belgrade next week.