Senegalese winger Demba Seck played a decisive role as FK Partizan secured a narrow 3-2 victory over FK Novi Pazar in the Serbian top flight on Thursday.
The win, which came in the 30th round of the Mozzart Bet Superliga, keeps Partizan firmly in third place with 61 points, although they remain some distance behind leaders Red Star Belgrade. Novi Pazar, meanwhile, sit fifth with 47 points following the defeat.
Seck, who is on loan from Torino FC, made his impact felt almost immediately.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest, finishing off a well-worked attacking move to give the visitors an early advantage. It marked his sixth goal of the season, underlining his growing influence since arriving in Serbia.
Despite the fast start, the hosts responded before the break. Driton Camaj found the equaliser in the 45th minute, ensuring both sides went into halftime level after a competitive opening period.
However, Partizan regained control early in the second half, once again with Seck at the heart of the action.
The Senegalese winger produced a moment of quality down the right flank, delivering a precise pass to Sebastian Polter, who finished with a clever backheel in the 50th minute to restore the visitors’ lead.
The match quickly turned into an end-to-end contest. Just two minutes later, Vieri Kotzebue brought Novi Pazar level again, highlighting the home side’s resilience and determination to take something from the game.
But Partizan had the final say. In the 56th minute, Milan Vukotic scored what proved to be the winning goal, sealing a hard-fought victory in a match that delivered five goals and plenty of attacking quality.
Seck’s performance stood out not only for his goal and assist but also for his overall attacking presence, although he did receive a yellow card in the 38th minute.
His contribution continues a consistent run of form since joining Partizan, where he has regularly delivered in key moments.
For African football followers, Seck’s rise in Serbia offers another example of a Senegalese player making an impact in European leagues outside the traditional spotlight.
His ability to influence matches both as a scorer and creator will be encouraging for both his club and national team prospects.
While Partizan remain well behind Red Star in the title race, performances like this suggest they have the quality to maintain their position among the league’s top sides as the season progresses.
