Chérif Ndiaye etched his name deeper into Eternal Derby folklore with a brilliant brace for Red Star Belgrade, though his heroics were not enough to secure victory in the 175th clash against Partizan, which ended in a hard-fought draw.
The Senegalese striker, who has made a habit of tormenting Partizan defenders, once again rose to the occasion at the Rajko Mitić Stadium.
Despite Red Star trailing 1-0 early on, Ndiaye’s clinical finishing turned the game on its head, even if the final result left his team with mixed emotions.
Partizan stunned the home crowd just eight minutes in, seizing the lead and setting the tone for a tense derby.
Red Star struggled to break down their rivals’ defense during the first half, with Ndiaye denied by Partizan goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic in his first real chance of the game.
But the second half told a different story.
Just a minute after the restart, Andrija Maksimovic whipped in a perfect cross, and Ndiaye met it with a diving header, bringing Red Star level at 1-1.
The 29-year-old didn’t stop there. Five minutes later, he capitalized on a costly error from Jovanovic, who mishandled a routine ball, allowing Ndiaye to slot home his second and give Red Star the lead.
Though Partizan clawed back to level the score before the final whistle, the night belonged to Ndiaye, who further solidified his reputation as a derby specialist.
Since joining Red Star, the Senegalese forward has made a habit of delivering in the biggest games.
His double on Saturday brought his tally to eight goals in just six appearances against Partizan—making him one of the deadliest strikers in Eternal Derby history.
Ndiaye now shares fourth place on the derby’s all-time scorers list, sitting alongside Serbian legends Milan Galić and Kosta Tomašević.
Only Dragan Džajić and Bora Kostić (both with nine goals) and the record-holder Marko Valok (13 goals) stand ahead of him.
This season has been a standout one for Ndiaye, who now boasts 18 goals across all competitions.
His consistency and knack for performing on the biggest stages have cemented his status as a fan favorite and a key figure in Red Star’s title ambitions.
Despite the frustration of not securing all three points, Red Star coach Barak Bachar praised Ndiaye’s impact, highlighting his ability to step up when it matters most.
“Chérif is a leader on the pitch. His mentality, work rate, and hunger for goals make him invaluable in matches like these,” Bachar said post-match.
Ndiaye himself, though pleased with his personal milestone, expressed disappointment over the draw.
“It’s always special to score in the Eternal Derby, but I would have preferred the win,” he admitted.
“We’ll keep pushing until the end of the season.”
With Red Star locked in a tight title race, Ndiaye’s form could prove decisive in the coming weeks.
And if history is anything to go by, Partizan defenders will be hoping they don’t face him again anytime soon.
