1. INTRODUCTION
Maybe I was a little cruel leaving you all hanging this way, eagerly awaiting the outcome of our first European Final appearance, but it’s the way it had to be!
However, with the catering team prepped and ready, the full compliment of players and staff boarded & strapped in and the pre-flight checks completed by our pilots, we set course for the sun of San Mames and lifted from the tarmac in Belarus‘ capital city full of hope and optimism that we could return with a European Trophy.
Let’s do it, shall we?
2. THE GAME
10′: Partizan Minsk attempt to apply some early pressure with a good spell of possession in the Hertha half resulting in a Nik Kozar effort being blocked on the edge of the box.
17′: Hertha have the change to take the lead with a dangerously positioned free-kick 20 yards from goal but the wall does its job to block Roditi‘s attempt and the ball is cleared.
22′: Nik Kozar‘s corner finds its way back to him for a second attempt to cross before landed at the feet of Krasovskiy who finds Augusto in the box. The Hertha players rush to block the shot and the danger is averted.
26′: The ball is knocked into the channel for Augusto to chase before he lays it into the path of Ribeiro Junior who’s effort from a tight angle finds only the side netting and the scoreline remains 0-0.
29′: Hertha have a chance from a corner but Dvorak‘s volley is diverted wide by Roccamante for another corner. Domashevich is called into action from the resulting corner as a lapse in concentration from the Partizan defence allows Dill to direct a header towards goal. It remains 0-0.
30′: Augusto is fouled on the counter resulting in a free-kick 30 yards from the Hertha goal. Puigmal takes the free-kick which loops onto the top of the goal, never to troubling the goalkeeper.
45′: The game remains goalless going into the break, with no clear cut chances for either side. Set-pieces have been the only means of carrying a threat with neither side looking likely to carve out an opportunity from open play.
46′: Hertha kick off the second half before quickly winning a corner kick. They have 3 opportunities to score blocked by a defiant Partizan defence before the ball is eventually cleared by Roccamante.
52′: Hertha put together the best passage of play in the match so far and manage to isolate Zak vs Klan in a wide area. Zak wins the 1 v 1 to create space for the shot which is saved comfortably by Domashevich. Hertha look the more likely since the interval but it remains 0-0.
54′: Big shouts for a penalty as Hertha‘s Roditi drives into the box before being upended by Krasovskiy. No penalty given but Partizan can think themselves lucky that it wasn’t given.
57′: Partizan finally threaten the goal from open play as the ball is worked nicely from left to right where Emerson Royal slips the ball into the path of Samuel who’s shot is well held by Schubert in the Hertha goal. 0-0.
59′: BIG CHANCE! Arnau Puigmal‘s free kick finds its way to Augusto at the back post who’s effort from 6 yards is brilliantly tipped around the post by Schubert. Partizan almost taking the lead having worked their way back into the game.
67′: Hertha counter at pace and Quaderer‘s cross finds its way to Roditi in acres of space but his effort is saved well by Domashevich. Both sides have started to create chances now with either goalkeeper pulling their weight.
85′: Hertha work the space well on the edge of the box to create space for a shot but it is closed down well in the end by Pavel Klan to rid the box of any danger. We remain goalless heading into the final 5 minutes. Extra Time appears to be on the cards at San Mames.
90+2′: Roditi again finds himself in acres of space in the box and should really do better than to head the ball straight into the arms of Domashevich.
90+3′: RED CARD! Hertha go down to 10-men as Bojan Amic is shown a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Sidibe on the edge of the box. The free kick is in a dangerous area, which Sidibe will take himself.
90+4′: The free kick is a poor one and is easily dealt with by the wall but Partizan remain on the attack as Khatskevich plays a brilliant cross field pass into the path of Samuel before Wadson tackles perfectly to see the ball out for a throw in on the far side.
90+5′: GOAAAAAAAAAAAL!! SIDIBEEEEEE!! 1-0 TO PARTIZAN!!
90+5′: The throw-in is played back to Emerson Royal by Samuel who floats a beautiful ball into the box. Sidibe rises highest to power home a header from 10-yards and give Partizan Minsk the lead in the Europa League Final. The players are loving it. The fans are loving it. The manager is loving it.
90+6′: There is barely any time to kick off and the referee blows his whistle for full time. Partizan Minsk have done it, they have won the Europa League!
3. THANK YOU
Is there a better way to end a save than with an unexpected European triumph? Partizan Minsk have been taken from the depths of Belarusian football to Europa League winners in the space of 10 years and what a ride it has been.
I thank you for continuing to follow along with this journey, even when the posts became few and far between, and I do hope you have enjoyed following it along as much as I have enjoyed playing it.
I can only apologise that the frequency and consistency of posts was poor after April had passed, but I am glad that we’ve now managed to get the story of the Europa League Final of 2028 told before the arrival of the new game.
My plans for FM20 are not yet concrete, but in whatever I decide to do I will ensure that it is better planned to bring to you on a more consistent basis! If you’ll have me, of course.
Thank you again for reading this post and all that have preceded it and I’ll see you all again soon!
LIAMDOESFM 
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