HNL Week 11: Hajduk Slips Up In Pula, Dinamo Close Up!

Round 11 of the SuperSport HNL had really boring first halves all around the board, but the second halves were much more entertaining. The results didn’t offer much movement on the table, as mostly everybody stayed in their positions except for Lokomotiva and Slaven who swapped positions. Speaking of Lokomotiva, let’s get that match out of the way…

Gorica 0-0 Lokomotiva: Zzz…

Gorica (4-2-3-1): Josipović – Braut, Filipović, Stevanović, Costa (subbed on 68. Vrzić) – Frigan (subbed on 80. Bakić), Lacoux – Bogojević (subbed on 57. Cvijanović), Pavičić, Pranjić – Erceg (subbed on 80. Mijić)

Lokomotiva (4-2-3-1): Posavec – Karačić (subbed on 46. Thaqi), Gurlica, Triantafyllou, Čabrajić – Katić, Fetai – Lorber (subbed on 67. Subotić), Belcar (subbed on 74. Marić), Vuković – Kulušić

The opener of round 11 will only live on in the memory of the few brave souls who spent a rainy, chilly Saturday afternoon in the stands in Turopolje. There was at least some content early on, with both sides creating a few chances, though Gorica looked the slightly better team over the opening 45. The first flicker came in the 17th minute, when Frigan headed down a cross from the right, but Stevanović was a touch late and couldn’t get a shot away. Lokomotiva had the clearest chance of the half in the 25th, as Kulušić slipped away from the Gorica defence and ran in down the right to face Josipović one-on-one, but his shot went straight at the keeper.

The second half started slowly, though Lokomotiva got more of a grip on the game. The only real moment in the opening ten minutes was a Gurlica effort that flew just over the bar. Past the hour mark, Lokomotiva had their best chance of the half, as Katić let fly from 18 metres, powerful but a bit off target.

That seemed to wake Gorica up. Vrzić beat the Lokomotiva defence, reached the six-yard box and cut it back, but Gurlica got the ball away before Erceg could reach it. The follow-up saw Erceg hit a shot towards the near corner that was blocked. Gorica kept pushing, and Vrzić’s cross was headed back into the six-yard box by Cvijanović, but Pranjić couldn’t turn it in from five metres. The best chance came at the death. Mijić had a clear sight of goal from seven metres, but Čabrajić came up with a fantastic block to save the visitors.

It finished 0-0, and neither side can complain too much. Gorica had more of the late chances, which they wasted yet again, especially Mijić, who has an xG of 2.55 so far this season and has delivered ZERO goals. Lokomotiva will feel Kulušić should’ve put away his one-on-one in the first half. In the end, a very forgettable afternoon in front of a sparse crowd in Velika Gorica.

Varaždin 1-2 Slaven Belupo: Slaven Finally Win Away From Home

Varaždin (4-2-3-1): J. Silić – Posinković (subbed on 64. Lesjak), Mladenovski, Tepšić (subbed on 84. Jurić), Sikošek – Canjuga (subbed on 71. Akrap), Duvnjak – Bočkaj (subbed on 46. Puclin), Mamić, Tavares (subbed on 64. Vuk) – Latković

Slaven Belupo (4-2-3-1): Sentić – Krušelj, Mersinaj, Kovačić, Urata – Adeshina, Crepulja – Mitrović, Bošnjak (subbed on 64. Caimacov), Banovec – Nestorovski

Slaven Belupo came to Varaždin with a problem on the road, and Silvijo Čabraja made a call in goal, bringing Karlo Sentić back in after several rounds on the sidelines. The keeper didn’t repay him in the best way.

Varaždin took the lead in the 6th minute. Posinković whipped in a cross, Sentić went to claim it, and somehow, as even he probably couldn’t explain, it went through his legs and landed in front of Tavares, who tapped it in. Latković had the next big chance in the 24th after a mistake from Kovačić, but he shook the side netting. Just before the break there was a scramble in the Slaven six-yard box, and Latković shot from close range, only to hit teammate Bočkaj instead of the net.

The second half was a lullaby until the 66th. A long ball found Banovec, who headed it on to Nestorovski, and the Macedonian held off from shooting to lay it back for Mitrović, who placed it neatly in the net for 1-1. Four minutes later, the veteran Macedonian striker played through Banovec alone in front of Silić, and Banovec lobbed the keeper easily for 1-2. Varaždin thought they had levelled the game in the 72nd minute through Mamić, but a VAR check showed Akrap was offside, and the score went back to 1-2.

The drama wasn’t over just yet. In the 74th, Nestorovski was sent off for a sliding tackle on Sikošek, leaving Slaven to defend for the last 15 minutes with ten men. A very harsh red card, it must be said; it was late, but it neither stopped anything promising nor was it horrific enough to warrant a straight sending off. But in the end, Slaven easily held on as Varaždin struggled to produce anything offensively.

It’s Varaždin’s first home defeat since February, and a second straight loss after they had the chance to go top last round at Poljud, dropping them to third, which could turn to fourth if Rijeka get a result at the Maksimir. For Slaven, it’s a first away win of the season, a jump to seventh with 13 points.

Osijek 0-1 Rudeš: Saho Strikes As Rudeš Take First Away Win

Osijek (4-2-3-1): Malenica – Kruiver, Jelenić, Ježić, Heister (subbed on 79. Kalem) – Farkaš (subbed on 46. Bakti), Petrusenko – Bukvić (subbed on 24. Dolček), Tunjić (subbed on 62. Barić), Ljatifi (subbed on 78. Cantero) – Leon

Rudeš (4-2-3-1): Rogić – Unušić (subbed on 85. Taraba), Stolnik, Zebić, Curcio – Đorić, Skoko (subbed on 78. Popović) – Bralić, Seitz (subbed on 60. Ilečić), Haddad (subbed on 60. Poldrugač) – Junior Fernandes (subbed on 60. Saho)

Osijek’s growing injury list got longer before this one even started, with Luka Vrbančić joining it, bad news for a young side already short of bodies. Bessone chose to rotate, while Peternac stayed loyal to his usual eleven, only swapping Xavi for 16-year-old Seitz, who had a decent game.

It wasn’t an attractive affair, and the first thing worth noting came in the 22nd, when Bukvić fooled everyone by shooting instead of crossing, only for Rogić to turn it behind. Three minutes later Haddad had a chance to silence the Opus Arena, getting on the end of a Unušić cross, but his header ended up in the netting behind the goal. In the 32nd, veteran Junior Fernandes aimed for the far corner, but Marko Malenica did what he does best and saved it. Bukvić then went off injured and was replaced by Ivan Dolček, who thought he had scored in the 39th minute, dribbling past Stolnik and beating Rogić, but VAR called him offside. The winger started his run a little too early, to the dismay of the home fans.

The second half brought a better Osijek, but Rogić responded to Malenica’s saves with one of his own, as he produced a fantastic save to stop Kruiver in the 53rd minute. Then it went quiet until Ilečić’s break in the 67th. He tried to beat Malenica with a shot through the legs, but the Osijek captain read his intention. In the end, Malenica went from hero to villain in a single game. In the 81st, Poldrugač shot from 30 metres; Malenica tried to save it but only pushed it towards the goal, and the ball danced along the line off the post. Saho was there to take the gift and slam it into the net, to the joy of the visitors.

Osijek pushed for an equaliser, but Rudeš’s block held firm. Saho was the hero for the guests as he made a comeback after being out for a month. For Osijek, it’s a fourth game without a win, and they missed the chance to go second, staying fifth on 17 points. Rudeš get their first away win of the season and a jump over Gorica, who are now last. They sit ninth, three points ahead of the club they share their stadium with. Osijek travel to Maksimir to face Lokomotiva next week, while Rudeš host Dinamo.

Istra 1961 2-2 Hajduk: Istra Fight Back From Two Down

Istra 1961 (4-4-2): Kolić – Hrvatin, Nasraoui, Kumar, Šepić – Frederiksen, Albarracin, Rozić (subbed on 60. Škafar Žužić) – Isaac (subbed on 60. Ahmeti), Jaganjac

Hajduk (4-2-3-1): Silić – Acapandie (subbed on 76. Gabrić), Marešić (subbed on 69. Van Hoorenbeeck), Hadžikadunić, Hrgović – Del Moral, Fayad – Bamba (subbed on 76. Martin), Dalisson (subbed on 83. Dendoncker), Šotiček (subbed on 83. Huram) – Šego

Hajduk arrived in Pula on the back of four straight very impressive wins. It’s been the kind of European autumn Poljud has waited years for, but it comes with a challenge the club hasn’t had to deal with in a long time. Balancing the league and Europe takes a deep squad, fitness and, above all, concentration, and all that is what mattered most on the Aldo Drosina.

Istra showed they had no intention of sitting back against the league leaders, Frederiksen threatening from the left inside the first 30 seconds before his shot was blocked right on the goal line. Hajduk soon took control, though, and went ahead in the 7th minute. A set piece sent the ball in a high arc to Fayad, who found the space and finished with a lovely scissor kick from close range, leaving Kolić only able to watch the ball as it went in. Hajduk’s best chance to double the lead came in the 27th. Šotiček beat his marker and shot; Kolić saved, and the rebound fell to Dalisson, whose effort was blocked by Šepić. Istra flickered here and there, but it stayed 0-1 at the break. Pretty uneventful half, especially compared to what was about to come.

Hajduk started the second half just as well, with Šotiček and Bamba both testing the keeper early on. The second goal came in the 54th, and this time Fayad was the provider. He drove down the left and sent a perfect low ball across that bypassed Kumar, and Šego was in the right place to tap it home. At that point Hajduk looked comfortable, playing with confidence and heading towards the kind of win that has defined their October. The only issue was that Garcia was making no substitutions with his unchanged starting XI from Thursday.

Istra took advantage of Hajduk’s complacency. Ahmeti threatened with a volley in the 63rd, and three minutes later the hosts were back in it. Frederiksen combined with Škafar Žužić, got down the right and crossed to the six-yard box, where Jaganjac was quicker than Hadžikadunić to make it 2-1. That goal changed the balance of the game. Istra smelled a way back, while Hajduk went from controlling the scoreline to struggling to deal with the attacks coming at them. Ahmeti was clean through in the 71st, but Šotiček tracked back brilliantly to stop his shot, and Frederiksen’s follow-up was blocked.

The pressure paid off in the 78th. Gabrić, who had only come on two minutes earlier, was caught pulling Nasraoui down in the box, and referee Kolarić pointed to the spot without hesitation. Frederiksen stepped up and hit it brilliantly into the top left corner. The final two chances shortly followed: Adam Huram threatened with a strong run in the 85th, and two minutes later Jaganjac missed a big chance for a complete turnaround after a scramble in the box. Hajduk pushed for a winner through eight minutes of stoppage time, but Istra closed off the approaches and held on.

It ended 2-2, and it’s a result Garcia is mostly at fault for. Marešić and Acapandie asked to be subbed off, as they’ve both played a huge role in the last two weeks for the club. The weirdest decision was obviously bringing in young CB Gabrić at right-back, who in the end decided the game with his needless shirt pull. Dario Melnjak was left unused on the bench, and it’s pretty obvious that he or even Hrgović, who played the entirety of the affair, would’ve dealt better on the right side against Škafar Žužić. The 17-year-old winger was creating all sorts of problems for Hajduk’s right side, mainly Gabrić, who was unable to keep up.

But at the end of the day, it’s a draw that comes after the best possible scenario in four very, very tough games. Istra also once again showed how hot and cold a side they are, and if you leave them in the game, they can turn the heat right up and put the pressure on. Cabello also shifted the team’s strategy from playing out from the back when possible to very direct football, focusing on getting the ball to the wings and subsequently pressing high. The total opposite of what his side had done for the first 60 minutes.

In short, Garcia failed to adapt to the switch of play. Hajduk remain top of the league on 23 points, heading into Saturday’s match vs. last-placed Gorica.

Dinamo 2-1 Rijeka: Stojković Double Closes Distance to Hajduk

Dinamo (4-3-3): Kotarski – Galešić (subbed on 69. Valinčić), Dominguez, Radeljić, Goda (subbed on 75. Perez Vinlöf) – Stojković, Mišić, Zajc (subbed on 75. Ivanušec) – Rodriguez (subbed on 69. Almena), Beljo, Hoxha

Rijeka (4-2-3-1): Vekić – Oreč, Majstorović, Husić, Devetak – Pavić, Ćubelić – Fruk (subbed on 79. Lasickas), Dantas, Vignato (subbed on 84. Gojak) – Adu-Adjei

Dinamo had a big chance in the very first minute. Majstorović misplayed a pass back to Vekić; Beljo was first to it and found Dani Rodríguez, who shot from seven or eight metres at a nearly empty goal, only for Husić to block it with a brilliant reaction. In the 17th, Radeljić thought he was still at Rijeka as he gave the ball away to Fruk, but recovered with a well-timed slide. After that, the game settled down, and whistles from unhappy fans were heard at Maksimir at the 22nd minute mark.

Dinamo took the lead in the 35th. Arber Hoxha got past his man on the left and played in Beljo, whose low pass across the box found Stojković, who hit it hard past Vekić from around ten metres for 1-0. This was the midfielder’s first HNL goal of the season. The oddest moment of the half came in the 40th, when referee Dario Bel tripped and fell on the pitch. It looked like he might have to go off, but he got up and carried on.

Dinamo started the second half on the front foot as they did the first one. Zajc missed from a good position in the 46th after Vekić’s uncertain clearance, and two minutes later Husić again saved Rijeka by blocking a Rodríguez shot almost on the line. In the 58th, Dinamo produced one of their best moves of the game. Rodríguez found Galešić, who crossed, and Zajc shot from close range, but Vekić reacted superbly to keep it out.

Rijeka made them pay for their misses in the 64th minute. Dantas threaded a pass to Mladen Devetak on the left, and the full-back found Vignato in the box, who took the ball, made room for the shot and finished for 1-1. After the equaliser, Rijeka grew into the game and threatened more often. Kovačević changed things with Valinčić, Almena, Ivanušec and Perez Vinlöf, while Kek replaced Fruk and Vignato with Lasickas and Gojak. Perez Vinlöf hit a hard shot from an angle in the 77th, but Vekić saved it well.

The winner came in the 85th. Mišić made the key move in midfield and played the ball to Stojković, who took it about 17 metres out and struck it hard and accurately with his weaker foot inside the near post for 2-1.

Dinamo move up to 22 points, one behind leaders Hajduk with one game fewer played. Rijeka stay on 17 points, in fifth. A great win for Dinamo, and if I’m not mistaken, their first, at least big, victory without Beljo being involved in the winning goal. If Stojković is able to get going now, it would be a large help for Mario Kovačević, who’s struggled to get anybody other than Beljo scoring this season. It wasn’t a brilliant, perfect performance from Dinamo; they did enough to deserve the three points, although they definitely could’ve ended the game much earlier and escaped the late drama. Meanwhile, Kek’s Rijeka still look lost, neither here nor there, as their league position shows.