Round 12 of the SuperSport HNL saw the second sacking of the season as Dinamo Zagreb finally moved on from Mario Kovačević after a shock defeat “away” to Rudeš. But before the big Saturday, we had an Istra win on Friday…
Slaven Belupo 0-2 Istra 1961: Nasraoui And Isaac Seal Istra’s Win In Koprivnica
Slaven Belupo (4-2-3-1): Sentić – Krušelj, Mersinaj, Kovačić, Urata – Adeshina, Crepulja – Mitrović, Caimacov (subbed on 61. Papac), Banovec – Ratshukudu (subbed on 77. Bosak)
Istra 1961 (4-2-3-1): Kolić – Hrvatin, Nasraoui, Momoh, Šepić – Hodžić, Albarracín – Frederiksen, Ahmeti, Škafar Žužić (subbed on 72. Rozić) – Jaganjac (subbed on 72. Isaac)
Šepić made a good late run into the box inside the opening minutes, but his shot was blocked. Istra then appealed for a penalty, claiming Mersinaj had handled the ball, but after a short check the referee waved play on. After that, there was little worth mentioning until the game boiled over. Adeshina went in hard on Škafar Žužić in a challenge right next to the benches and stood on him, sparking a scuffle as the Istra players rushed to defend their teammate. It calmed down quickly and Adeshina got a yellow card, but it was his fourth of the season, so he will miss the next game against Gorica.
Almost everything dangerous Istra produced in the first half went through the 17-year-old winger. Slaven had more of the ball but lacked the final pass, while Istra found space to threaten without having much possession. In the 35th minute, Šepić got down the flank and crossed to Škafar Žužić, but Mersinaj got a last-minute touch to put him off.
The second half continued in the same vein. Slaven, who had destroyed Rijeka with counterattacks a few weeks earlier, tried the same recipe, but Istra had an answer. Albarracín and Hodžić held their positions as the double pivot and didn’t push forward, with only Šepić getting more freedom going forward. After creating two moments in the first half, he had a shot himself after the break, but Sentić was equal to it.
The breakthrough came in the 71st from a set piece. Istra won a free kick a long way from goal, Frederiksen floated it into the box, and Nasraoui rose highest to head it in at the near post. Slaven pushed for an equaliser, hoping for another comeback like the one against Varaždin, but Istra didn’t allow it. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, they made it two on the counter. Rozić ran forward and played in Isaac, whose first shot was saved by Sentić, but the ball came back to him, and he volleyed it in.
Istra won 2-0, and it was a very composed and mature performance from Javier Cabello’s young side. The defence had an answer for almost everything Slaven threw at them, although the home side definitely felt the absence of Ilija Nestorovski, who has been their most in-form player for the past two years. As previously mentioned, Slaven play Gorica next, while Istra has the perfect interlude to the Derby Della Učka next weekend against Rijeka.
Hajduk 5-0 Gorica: Martin Double And Huram Show Send Gorica Packing
Hajduk (4-2-3-1): Silić – Acapandie (subbed on 64. Hodak), Hadžikadunić, Van Hoorenbeeck, Hrgović (subbed on 68. Melnjak) – Del Moral, Dendoncker – Bamba (subbed on 64. Šutalo), Livaja, Huram (subbed on 64. Šotiček) – Martin (subbed on 75. Brruti)
Gorica (4-2-3-1): Josipović – Braut, Filipović, Stevanović, Cvijanović – Lacoux (subbed on 85. Issa), Frigan (subbed on 59. Bakić) – Bogojević, Pavičić (subbed on 73. Brodić), Pranjić (subbed on 59. Kavelj) – Erceg (subbed on 46. Mijić)
Hajduk were without Dalisson, Marešić and Pajaziti through injury and suspension, so Garcia made five changes to his usual XI: Livaja replaced Dalisson, Martin came in for Šego, Huram for Šotiček, Van Hoorenbeeck for Marešić, and Dendoncker made his first start in place of Fayad. Gorica were without their suspended manager Mario Carević, with assistant Denis Mojstrović taking charge from the bench. Carević was talking into his coat throughout the match.
The first moment of note came in the 16th minute, when Livaja went down in the box under a challenge from Frigan and appealed for a penalty, but referee Dragašević waved play on. Gorica set up in a low block, and it held for just under half of the first half. In the 22nd, Acapandie crossed from the right; the ball floated over to the far post over Josipović, and Huram finished neatly from a tough angle for 1-0. Bamba made it 2-0 eleven minutes later, tapping in from two metres at the far post after a move started by Livaja. The assistant first flagged Martin for offside before the Spaniard assisted the winger, but after a two-minute VAR review Dragašević reversed it and awarded the goal. Five minutes later it was 3-0. Martin slid in to win the ball off Stevanović on the right, ran to the edge of the box, and drilled it into the far corner from eight metres.
Gorica brought on Mijić for Erceg at half-time, and Hajduk made no changes. Within five minutes, they had a fourth. Huram carried the ball some 20 metres down the left, brilliantly dribbled past four Gorica players, and set up Martin, who got his brace. Josipović denied Martin a hat-trick in the 62nd minute. Šutalo scored the fifth in the 70th after coming on, finishing from seven metres after a few lucky bounces that left Gorica dumbfounded. Hajduk tried to get more goals, but they were unable to find them.
Martin was the star with two goals and an assist, while the 17-year-old Ukrainian winger Huram added a goal and an assist, and the performance strengthened Martin’s claim to the centre-forward role after being very disappointing on the wing. And given that the Spanish attacker has similar attributes to Šego, it’s a bit surprising he wasn’t tested at the position before. The crowd of 11,476 was the lowest at Poljud this autumn. After the final whistle, news of the death of Mišo Kovač spread through the stadium, and the stands sang several of his songs. May he rest in peace.
Rudeš 1-0 Dinamo: Fernandes Lob Stuns Dinamo In Velika Gorica
Rudeš (5-4-1): Rogić – Unušić, Zebić, Stolnik, Bralić, Curcio (subbed on 87. Taraba) – Seitz (subbed on 60. Xavi), Đorić, Skoko (subbed on 73. Popović), Poldrugač (subbed on 60. Haddad) – Junior Fernandes (subbed on 73. Saho)
Dinamo (4-3-3): Kotarski – Valinčić, Dominguez, Galešić, Perez Vinlöf – Stojković (subbed on 67. Ivanušec), Mišić, Zajc (subbed on 67. Prevljak) – Rodriguez (subbed on 67. Almena), Beljo, Hoxha (subbed on 75. Kačavenda)
Rudeš welcomed Dinamo to Velika Gorica on the back of their first away win of the season at Osijek, while Dinamo arrived after beating Rijeka at Maksimir and thrashing Slaven Belupo 5-1 in Koprivnica. Peternac set Rudeš up in a five-man defence, with Junior Fernandes as the lone striker.
Rudeš were the sharper side early on. In the opening half hour they created four or five big chances and hit the woodwork, with the 38-year-old Fernandes missing several of them. Dinamo also had their moments in the first half and appealed for penalties on a couple of occasions, but referee Ante Čulina waved play on each time.
Rudeš took the lead in the 30th minute. Poldrugač sent Fernandes through, and the Chilean lifted the ball over the onrushing Kotarski for 1-0. Fernandes was a constant problem for Dinamo’s defence, faster and sharper than everyone around him. Living up to his first name at thirty-eight years of age! Right before half-time, Dion Drena Beljo equalised from an offside position. The striker was very aware of the fact, as he didn’t celebrate and looked distraught, but VAR took its sweet time drawing the lines and took a bit too long. But that wasn’t the longest review of the match…
Kovačević made no changes at half-time, and Dinamo were whistled by their own supporters at the start of the second half, with sporadic chants of “Leave, Kova” heard from the stands. The changes came in the 67th, when Ivanušec, Prevljak and Almena replaced Stojković, Zajc and Rodriguez. Almena’s afternoon lasted just five minutes. In the 72nd, he caught Curcio with an elbow and was shown a straight red card. It took the Brazilian full-back a while to realise he should probably drop to the floor, but it made no impact on Almena’s punishment as Čulina saw the entire thing.
Beljo later put the ball in the net, but Čulina went to the monitor himself after a lengthy VAR check of around five minutes and ruled the goal out for a handball. And according to the rules, it’s the right call as Beljo accidentally handled the ball and scored immediately afterwards. As the commentator, Mateo Pukšar pointed out, this call should’ve been easily made by the VAR room, and play should’ve moved on. But VAR took their sweet time drawing unnecessary offside lines, despite the handball call obviously overriding that, and on top of that they had Čulina do an on-field review.
Dinamo played the final stretch a man down and could not find a way through. Rudeš held on for a second straight win, taking the points against the champions. Dinamo’s players were whistled off the pitch and left without greeting the supporters. And it was the final straw for president Zvonimir Boban, who sacked Mario Kovačević today. Jerko Leko will be the interim manager for now, as Dinamo search for a long-term solution, with lots of media reporting it’s set to be a Barcelona-style coach, but nothing concrete as of now.
Rijeka 1-1 Varaždin: Fruk’s Scissor Kick And Mamić’s Rocket Cancel Each Other Out
Rijeka (4-1-4-1): Vekić – Oreč, Majstorović, Husić, Devetak (subbed on 80. Lasickas) – Pavić – Mohebi (subbed on 61. Gojak), Fruk, Dantas, Vignato (subbed on 90. Jurić) – Adu-Adjei (subbed on 80. Puljić)
Varaždin (3-4-3): Silić – Lesjak (subbed on 46. Vuk), Punčec, Tepšić – Maglica, Duvnjak, Canjuga, Sikošek (subbed on 75. Posinković) – Mamić (subbed on 88. Puclin), Latković (subbed on 80. Posavec), Tavares (subbed on 88. Barać)
Kek switched things up for this one, going with a 4-1-4-1 with Pavić as the lone pivot and Fruk and Dantas as the two higher eights. Varaždin set up in a 3-4-3 and sat very deep, with the front three given plenty of freedom to rotate between each other. Rijeka controlled things from the first whistle, but there was very little to talk about in the opening ten minutes or so.
That changed in the 17th minute. Rijeka attacked down their right, where Oreč combined twice with Mohebi, got past his man and sent a cross towards the far post. It wasn’t a perfect delivery, but Fruk made do with it as he turned his body and met it with an outstanding bicycle kick to open the scoring. Another show of class from Rijeka’s star man, to shut up his critics, myself included, amidst his poorer form this season. Fruk also played a bit deeper than usual this afternoon; he was far more involved in the build-up, and Rijeka looked noticeably better whenever he had the ball.
Varaždin offered next to nothing in the first half. However, in the 35th, after a cross from the left, Tavares and Husić got tangled up at the top of the six-yard box. Husić stopped him with his hands, Tavares went down, and referee Strukan pointed to the spot after a VAR check. Both players were holding each other, and Tavares sold it a bit, so it was certainly a soft one. Luka Mamić took it, going to his left, but Vekić read the opposing midfielder and saved it. Near the end of the half, Rijeka could have made it 2-0 when Fruk won the ball at the top of Varaždin’s box, but his pass to the better-placed Vignato didn’t come off as he envisioned.
Šafarić made a change at the break, bringing on former Rijeka man Matej Vuk for Lesjak, which also meant a switch to a 4-2-3-1. Tavares moved up front, and Latković went out to the right, though the front three kept swapping positions.
Varaždin equalised in the 50th, and Rijeka had mostly themselves to blame. Mamić crossed from the left looking for Tavares, Husić headed it back out to him, and Mamić volleyed it from 17 metres at an angle exquisitely into the top corner. There was nothing Vekić could do this time to stop the midfielder.
The goal gave Varaždin a lift and rattled Rijeka, who had been in complete control up to that point. Gojak had a golden chance in the 64th minute after Adu-Adjei, who had barely been seen until then, set him up. But his shot from a perfect position was weak, and Silić had time to get to it and pull off a big save. Rijeka kept pressing, and in the 75th Fruk had another good opening from the top of the box, but his shot dipped and wobbled past the post. After that, nothing else came, apart from a free kick from 17 metres in stoppage time that didn’t find the target. Tepšić was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card for dissent.
Rijeka were the better side and will feel they should have won it, especially with chances like Gojak’s and Fruk’s second-half effort. Varaždin were far from convincing, but they were pragmatic, as usual, and they did make it tougher than it needed to be. They stay third, ahead of Rijeka and behind Hajduk and Dinamo. Rijeka now prepare to face Istra away next week.
Lokomotiva 1-3 Osijek: Osijek End Their Winless Run In The Rain At Maksimir
Lokomotiva (4-2-3-1): Posavec – Triantafyllou, Gurlica, Čabraja, Čabrajić – Katić, Fetai (subbed on 76. Atabaev) – Thaqi (subbed on 56. Sahli), Belcar (subbed on 46. Marić), Vuković (subbed on 86. Đurković) – Kulušić
Osijek (4-2-3-1): Malenica – Kruiver, Kolarik, Jelenić, Kalem – Farkaš (subbed on 90. Barić), Petrusenko – Cantero (subbed on 46. Posavec), Tunjić (subbed on 90. Mustafić), Ljatifi (subbed on 69. Bakti) – Leon (subbed on 83. Balelo)
Bessone faced yet another injury issue before kickoff, as Izak Ježić joined a long list of absentees due to discomfort. As a result, Kolarik partnered with Luka Jelenić at centre-back. Fewer than 50 spectators braved the rain at Maksimir on a gloomy Sunday, but those who attended were treated to early action, with three significant chances and a goal before the seventh minute.
Belcar had the first opportunity after Kolarik made a costly mistake, but Malenica was alert and ready. Osijek quickly responded with an effort from Leon, which was well saved by Posavec. Moments later, Leon hit the bar, but Lokomotiva barely had time to breathe. Osijek regained possession immediately, and Tunjić capped off the play with a powerful shot from distance, although it was massively helped by a deflection, putting them ahead 1-0.
Leon could have increased the lead shortly after. He capitalised on an error from the home defence and found himself one-on-one with Posavec. With ample time, he had the chance to choose his corner, but his poor finish was more of a gift than a shot. Bessone was furious on the touchline, but relief came in the 36th minute. Farkaš got on the end of a cross from Kalem, and the ball found its way into the net for 2-0.
Lokomotiva made a substitution at halftime, bringing on Marić for Belcar, and he quickly set up a great chance for Vuković. The change paid off in the 60th minute when Marić connected with Katić’s cross and managed to put it past Malenica, making it 1-2. The few fans sheltered under umbrellas now had a reason to stay engaged for the end of the game.
Marić nearly scored again in the 80th minute, rising high to head the ball towards goal, but Malenica made an impressive save to maintain Osijek’s lead. Osijek ultimately sealed the match just before the end when Mustafić, who had recently replaced Tunjić, set up Balelo for a final score of 3-1.
With this victory, Osijek ended a four-game winless streak and will head into next Sunday’s home game against Hajduk sitting in third place. Meanwhile, Lokomotiva’s tough week, which included being knocked out of the Cup on penalties away to Varaždin, leaves them in second-to-last place in the HNL.
The SHNL standings after 12 rounds:
Fizkulturno Društvo je izgubilo. Reason enough to crack open a beer.