Gary McCabe’s goal kept Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of qualifiying for the Europa League alive after a pulsating finish in Tallaght Stadium tonight.
McCabe’s brilliant goal nine minutes before the end ensured Rovers go to Belgrade level, a scenario which looked very unlikely after Nemanja Tomic’s 14th minute strike.
The Serbian champions were dominant for most of the game and looked to be cruising to victory before McCabe’s strike.
The second leg will take place next Wednesday with Rovers hoping to become the first Irish team to qualify for the group stages of a European competition.
Rovers boss Michael O’Neill brought in Ronan Finn and Gary McCabe for Dean Kelly and Gary O’Neill. It was a line-up designed to try and stifle Partizan but it proved a difficult task for the Hoops.
A foul by Billy Dennehy on Milan Smiljanic gave Partizan their first chance on goal in the third minute.
The impressive Tomic sent a rasping effort towards goal that Ryan Thompson has to be at full stretch to tip over.
Partizan were enjoying all the early possession as the Hoops struggled to get to grips with the game.
It seemed a matter of time before the Serbian side started creating clear chances and they soon took the lead.
The visitors burst down the right wing, with Jovancic’s clever cross picking out the unmarked Tomic to slide the ball past the helpless Thompson.
It was a simple yet clinical goal and left the Hoops with a massive task on their hands to try to stay in the tie.
Tomic nearly doubled the lead in the 17th minute as he was once again picked out in the Rovers area, but this time his shot lacked the conviction and accuracy to find the net.
Dan Murray’s error, mis-judging the bounce of the ball to leave Eduardo in on goal, was another worrying moment for the Hoops, as the winger scuffed a shot wide of the goal.
Partizan were completely dominating the game and Jovanovic forced Thompson into another save mid-way through the half.
Rovers did improve as the half went on and Dan Murray had two minor openings to level the tie.
The defender headed wide when under-pressure from several Partizan players and then his rising shot sailed just over the bar in a loose ball from a corner.
Partizan deservedly held a one-goal lead at the break, with O’Neill opting to bring in Chris Turner for Ronan Finn for the second period.
The Serbian champions were on the front foot again in the early stages. They were comfortably stringing passes together, forcing Rovers to chase the ball and leaving Gary Twigg isolated in attack.
Thompson’s poor clearance in the 57th minute allowed Jovancic a clear run on goal but the Jamaican goalkeeper produced a fine save to prevent a second Partizan goal.
Hoops boss O’Neill reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, brining in Gary O’Neill for Billy Dennehy and it changed the game.
The alteration brought about a new attacking threat with Rovers using set-pieces and long balls to test the Partizan backline.
There was a big shout from the home crowd for a penalty as a sliced Partizan clearance bounced into the ground and onto arm of Nemanja Rnic but the referee waved away the appeals.
Partizan seemed happy to take a one-goal victory but Rovers began to have more of the ball and their best piece of play all night nicked an equaliser.
Gary McCabe picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, beating Medo before playing the ball to Twigg.
The striker took a touch and played it back to McCabe to jink past another man and slot the ball home for a sublime leveller.
With the home supporters buoyant, Rovers had two glorious chances to take a lead to Belgrade.
Gary Twigg was on the end of Dan Murray’s flicked header but his shot on the turn was just over the bar.
The Scottish striker was denied by Aleksander Rankovic in the final minute from six yards out as the Partizan man brilliantly knocked the ball away from Twigg when he seemed certain to score from close-range.
In the end Rovers were disappointed to see full-time and they go to Belgrade next week knowing they have plenty of work to do if they are to make the historic breakthrough to the Europa League group stages.
