Partizan defeat Red Star in Serbian football s eternal derby

Belgrade April 19 (IANS) Partizan Belgrade defeated league leaders and eternal rivals Red Star Belgrade 3-1 in the first round of the play-offs of the Serbian Superliga football tournament.

Partizan took the lead through Leonardo da Silva Souza in the 21st minute on Tuesday but Red Star s Richmond Boakye found the equaliser off an assist from John Jairo Ruiz in the 48th minute.

The pace of the game slowed down until in the 68th minute when Partizan s Leandro Tawamba scored during a goalmouth melee.

Leonardo scored the final goal of the game in the 79th minute after being set up by Petar Djurickovic following a fast counter-attack.

This was the 154th derby between the two arch-rivals from the city.

The two teams are now on 40 points each with six games to go. Red Star have a slight lead due to a superior goal difference.

If players continue to play in this way and act like this I think the trophy is near Leonardo said.

The fire brigade had to intervene at half-time because a group of fans set chairs on fire while special forces intervened during the match to prevent fights between football fans.

--IANS
ajb/vt