Round 6 of the SuperSport HNL delivered a bit of everything: a unexpected stalemate between two great goalscoring sides, Dinamo struggling against Gorica, Osijek shooting themselves in the foot, Hajduk continuing their top form and Silvijo Čabraja returning to the league with a bang at the Ivan Kušek Apaš stadium.
Varaždin 0-0 Istra 1961: The Woodwork Says No
Varaždin (4-3-3): Silić – Maglica, Mladenovski, Tepšić, Sikošek (subbed on 82. Duraković) – Canjuga, Marina (subbed on 82. Duvnjak), Latković, Mamić, Tavares (subbed on 73. Uchegbu) – Jurić (subbed on 57. Vuk)
Istra 1961 (4-2-3-1): Kolić – Hrvatin (subbed on 85. Kadušić), Kumar, Miettinen, Šepić – Doumbia (subbed on 85. Maurić), Albarracin – Frederiksen (subbed on 61. Isaac), Ahmeti (subbed on 73. Goričan), Rozić (subbed on 61. Škafar Žužić) – Jaganjac
This was the match of the weekend for me, but both of the league’s most efficient sides played out the most unwanted scoreline there is: 0-0. Šafarić’s side were much closer to breaking the deadlock, but the woodwork bailed out Istra twice.
Varaždin arrived off a phenomenal run — four wins, one defeat (at Dinamo), home wins over Hajduk and Rijeka. And Istra had scored at least two goals in all of their games leading up to this one. Given the form on show, goals felt inevitable. But obviously they weren’t. Though not for lack of trying, with chances weighted heavily toward the hosts. Varaždin pressed high from the off and dominated the first half without the precision to show for it. Mamić rattled the outside of the post from 15 metres in the 7th. Mamić then spurned a bigger chance, teed up by Tavares, but Kolić bailed Istra out. Latković, Tavares and Canjuga all had attempts before the break, which arrived scoreless.
Varaždin came out firing again after the restart, but again to no avail. Ahmeti finally gave the visitors an outlet in the 58th, cutting inside and shooting from 20 metres, but missed the target. A big chance then came for Varaždin, as Latković rounded a stranded Kolić in the 69th minute, only for his heavy first touch to run too wide for Istra’s defenders to scramble clear.
Deep into stoppage time, Uchegbu got another huge chance and hit the ball clean, only for it to crash off the crossbar. A point and clean sheets for everyone in the end.
Dinamo 1-0 Gorica: Kotarski Debuts With Clean Sheet
Dinamo (4-3-3): Kotarski – Valinčić, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf – Stojković (subbed on 71. Ivanušec), Kravcov, Zajc (subbed on 65. Kačavenda) – Lisica (subbed on 81. Prevljak), Beljo (subbed on 81. Galešić), Hoxha (subbed on 65. Oršić)
Gorica (4-2-3-1): Josipović – Perić (subbed on 25. Braut), Stevanović, Filipović, Cvijanović – Lacoux, Čustović (subbed on 46. Pavičić) – Pranjić, Kučiš (subbed on 13. Frigan), Bogojević – Mijić
Gorica had the first real chance, Mijić forcing a fine save out of debutant Kotarski from close range in the 10th minute. Dinamo dominated the ball from there without creating much, Josipović comfortable dealing with efforts from Stojković and Hoxha. The sole goal of the game came in the 29th: Valinčić’s low cross into the six-yard box pinballed around before Beljo reacted quickest to put it in; his ninth of the season, a return that speaks for itself. Eduardo da Silva’s record is once again under threat.
After that goal, the game really calmed down; Dinamo had the ball, and Gorica couldn’t find a way to threaten the hosts. That was until the 75th minute when the guests rattled the crossbar. Cvijanović sneaked in behind to meet a loose ball, and shortly silenced the Maksimir before the woodwork saved the reigning champions. The game then turned on its head and Dinamo were holding on by the skin of their teeth. Gorica were throwing on long balls and crosses as Dinamo defended; Kotarski made two big saves in the final minutes to keep a clean sheet on debut. A great game from the keeper, who definitely impressed on his first senior game for the club.
But Dinamo’s main problem is that right-hand side, and really both wings — Hoxha and Lisica have been quiet this season. Valinčić also really struggles off the ball; he was easily beaten a few times this game by Bogojević and Pranjić when they ran in behind him, as he either lost focus or was poorly positioned. Nonetheless, Dinamo got the three points, and Gorica have decided to once again assure everybody that they’re sticking with Mario Carević despite the club’s worst start in the HNL ever.
Rijeka 4-1 Osijek: Osijek Mistakes Gift Rijeka Three Points
Rijeka (4-2-3-1): Vekić – Oreč, Majstorović, Husić, Lasickas – Dantas (subbed on 85. Barco), Pavić – Fruk (subbed on 79. Jurić), Ćubelić (subbed on 85. Grulović), Vignato (subbed on 69. Gojak) – Adu-Adjei (subbed on 80. Mohebi)
Osijek (4-1-4-1): Malenica – Mustafić (subbed on 46. Posavec), Jelenić, Kolarik, Heister (subbed on 46. Kalem) – Vrbančić – Dolček (subbed on 65. Barić), Ježić (subbed on 46. Mikolčić), Bukvić, Ljatifi – Leon
Rijeka dominated from the start, racking up nine shots before the break and appealing for a penalty in the 8th when Fruk’s effort struck Heister — VAR confirmed it came off his chest, not his arm. Osijek struck first in the 15th minute, Ljatifi finding Armando Leon in behind Husić, who headed it past Vekić. The lead lasted just six minutes. Kolarik got caught in possession at the edge of his own box, Adu-Adjei nicked it and squared the ball for Vignato, who finished it low into the corner, 1-1.
Rijeka completed the turnaround in the 33rd — Malenica had already denied Dantas and Ćubelić twice with great saves, but couldn’t keep out Fruk, who burst down the right, rounded him, and squared it for Adu-Adjei to tap home, 2-1. Ten minutes later it was 3-1, Osijek undone again by their own sloppiness playing out from a goal kick, Fruk once again assisted Adu-Adjei, who was unmarked this time, for his brace. The final goal came in the 61st minute: Malenica saved Adu-Adjei’s one-on-one attempt, but the rebound fell to Osijek’s own Vrbančić, who gave it straight back under pressure, Fruk pounced and finished his dinner. Gojak nearly added a fifth in the 78th, his deflected effort cannoning off the post, but that was the last of it.
This was Rijeka at their most ruthless, punishing every mistake Osijek handed them; and there were plenty. Bessone’s side started brightly with the opener, but their inability to hold up under pressure in their own third proved fatal, and it’s another reminder of just how much work is still needed at Osijek despite the promising start, especially now that their entire starting left side was sold right before this game.
Nail Omerović and Roko Jurišić joined Portuguese side Estoril on deadline day, leaving the club without their top goalscorer and a top HNL left-back. And the next game isn’t any easier for Bessone and his players as Dinamo come to the Opus Arena.
Rudeš 0-4 Hajduk: Šotiček and Fayad Show
Rudeš (4-2-3-1): Rogić – Taraba (subbed on 63. Unušić), Celjak, Stolnik, Sušak (subbed on 82. Fernandes) – Đorić (subbed on 46. Seitz), Xavi – Poldrugač (subbed on 63. Lovrić), Skoko, Ilečić (subbed on 81. Kolega) – Saho
Hajduk (4-2-3-1): Silić – Acapandie, Marešić (subbed on 82. Hadžikadunić), Raci, Hrgović – Brutti (subbed on 64. Fayad), Del Moral – Bamba (subbed on 63. Martín), Dalisson, Šotiček (subbed on 64. Huram) – Šego (subbed on 76. Livaja)
Hajduk didn’t need to break a sweat for this one. No drama, no fuss, just a comfortable 4-0 job on the road that stretches their winning run in the league to four and pulls them level on points with Dinamo at the top — albeit with a game in hand. It was clear from the first minute Hajduk had arrived in a different gear. Rudeš tried to get something going but the guests didn’t let them breathe. Inside four minutes the visitors were already ahead as Šotiček started the move, then found Dalisson, who whipped one in from the left side, and Šego was in the right place to finish. From there it was one-way traffic.
Hajduk doubled their lead from the spot in the 28th. Šotiček again did the damage, driving down the left before Taraba brought him down in the box; a stonewall penalty that Škobić didn’t need VAR to confirm. Šego stepped up and slotted it home, his fourth in the league this season on top of five in Europe. Serious form right now from Hajduk’s captain.
Straight from the restart, Hajduk struck again. Šotiček did it all himself this time, driving into the box from the left and finding the far corner for 3-0. Garcia’s new arrivals both got minutes: Martín replaced Bamba, and Fayad came on for Brutti in the 63rd, while Šotiček got a huge ovation coming off for Huram. Livaja got a 20-minute cameo too, and Junior Fernandes made his first HNL appearance back in a Rudeš shirt.
Hajduk rounded it off in the 87th through Fayad, who brilliantly put away a Huram lay-off for a goal on his debut. That was it for the match, but I have to point out Khalil Fayad, who was phenomenal on the ball — in his short cameo, he made a case to be man of the match and topped it off with a great finish. A expected victory for Hajduk and a continuation of their brilliant game vs. Lokomotiva as the side really looks motivated and playing with a level of freedom after removing the burden of European heartbreak two weeks ago.
Slaven Belupo 2-1 Lokomotiva: Čabraja’s New-Look Side Delivers
Slaven Belupo (4-2-3-1): Sentić – Išasegi, Božić, Kovačić, Grgić – Bošnjak, Adeshina – Dabro (subbed on 82. Bosak), Mažar, Mitrović (subbed on 90. Crepulja) – Nestorovski
Lokomotiva (4-2-3-1): Posavec – Karačić, Triantafyllou, Čabraja, Čabrajić – Katić (subbed on 66. Smiljanić), Subotić (subbed on 81. Đurković) – Vešović (subbed on 68. Thaqi), Morina (subbed on 46. Vasilj), Vuković – Marić (subbed on 46. Antunović)
A minute’s silence for the late Ivan Gudelj was held before kickoff, as it was across the round. Silvijo Čabraja got his first win in charge of Slaven, fittingly against his former club, and the reshuffled side he sent out delivered in Koprivnica. Both teams were cautious early on, Lokomotiva the first to threaten in the 5th minute when Vuković broke down the left and squared it for Morina, who blazed a shot over from a good position around 10 metres out. Slaven took over from there, Dabro going close twice in quick succession without troubling Posavec, while Lokomotiva’s best chance of the half fell to Marko Vešović in the 37th, only for Sentić to save well. Goalless at the break.
Slaven wasted little time turning their building pressure into goals after the restart. In the 48th, Josip Mitrović whipped in a cross from the left after a corner was half-cleared, and Dominik Kovačić got the final touch to divert it in for 1-0. Five minutes later it was 2-0 as Marko Dabro’s corner sailed over everyone in the box and found Ilija Nestorovski unmarked at the back post, who headed home with ease. The veteran Macedonian striker is by far the most consistent attacker for the Farmaceuti since joining the club two years ago.
Slaven controlled things from there, content to pick their moments on the break while Lokomotiva struggled to do anything of note against Sentić. Nikica Jelavić threw on Antunović, Vasilj, Smiljanić, Thaqi and Đurković trying to spark a response, but Slaven’s back line held firm…mostly. The visitors did find a way back into it in the 87th. Triantafyllou struck one from distance that took an awkward bounce, Sentić only able to parry it, and Noel Đurković was quickest to react, poking home from close range to make it 2-1. Nothing changed after that, and the three points stayed in Koprivnica.
A great start for Čabraja against an underwhelming Lokomotiva side, once again nowhere near their quality this season. This is their 4th straight loss, and in the opening two matches they weren’t that convincing in their victories either. It also doesn’t help that Jelavić’s side has picked up 3 red cards this season already. And now the schedule is the toughest for them as they face Rijeka and Dinamo before the international break.
Croatian Cup: Osijek Stunned by Segesta
Most of the Round of 16 draw for the Croatian Cup is already set following Tuesday and Wednesday’s midweek fixtures. The biggest shock came in Sisak, where Segesta beat top-flight Osijek 3-1 in front of their own fans to knock them out of the competition. Dinamo, Hajduk, Istra 1961, Slaven Belupo, Varaždin, Lokomotiva, Gorica and Rudeš all secured their spots among the last 16 too, with a handful of ties still to be finished off. Also, Neretva got a bye into this round as Šibenik were a part of the draw before, and for some reason couldn’t just be replaced, and since that Šibenik side no longer exist, the side from Metković got into the next phase without kicking a ball.
Unlike some other cup competitions, the Croatian Cup doesn’t hold a fresh draw for the Round of 16 — the pairings are set in advance based on each club’s cup coefficient, so the bracket is already mapped out:
Bjelovar/Karlovac 1919 – Vrbovec/Rijeka
Vukovar 1991 – Dinamo
Slavonija Požega – Hajduk
Mladost Ždralovi – Slaven Belupo
Kustošija/BSK Bijelo Brdo – Gorica
Rudeš – Segesta
Varaždin – Lokomotiva
Istra 1961 – Neretva
