Partizan off to a flyer
Thursday, 4 November 2004
By Aleksandar Boskovic at Partizan stadium
[1] FK Partizan got their UEFA Cup Group E campaign off to a winning start with an emphatic victory against Egaleo FC in Serbia and Montenegro, a result that leaves the Greek side still bottom of the section after their second defeat.
Ilic double
[2] Saša Ilic scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half to add to Ioannis Christou's earlier own goal and end Egaleo hopes of finding their way back into the match. Simon Vukcevic then sealed the victory to the delight of the 15,000 spectators on a bitterly cold night in Belgrade.
Early endeavour
[3] Vladimir Vermezovic's side showed their attacking intent early and on two minutes defender Nemanja Rnic headed narrowly wide from a corner. Vukcevic could have broken the deadlock on 21 minutes after a glorious run but did not beat goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe.
Own goal
[4] The disappointment did not last long as within a minute the home side were ahead when Christou sliced a clearance from Ifeaniy Emeghara's cross past his his own keeper under pressure from Pierre Boya. Egaleo, who lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough FC on Matchday 1, almost regained parity on 33 minutes when Georgios Barkoglou shot wide with a rasping drive from 20 metres.
Ilic double
[5] Partizan dominated after the interval and finally beat the resilient Sidibe ten minutes after the restart when Ilic tapped in Dragan Ciric's cross. They struck again from close range five minutes later after Nenad Djordjevic had glanced on a Vukcevic corner and Ilic, free at the back post, headed past Sidibe.
Lazio test
[6] Vukcevic added a fourth from long range to seal a comprehensive win for Partizan, who travel three weeks from now to S.S Lazio, who are Egaleo's next opponents in Greece on 2 December.
Partizan's Saša Ilic is flanked by Mihalis Chatzis (left) and Ioannis Chloros