Rijeka remain winless in European play this season continuing their three game losing streak at home to Irish side Shelbourne, finishing the match 2-1. Both sides opened the match slowly with few legitimate chances in the opening half. Rijeka however in the 56th minute, found themselves in front when Janković netted home a penalty, off a controversial call due to the Shelbourne goal keeper who while taking a heavy touch lightly collided with Rijeka’s winger Ndockyt giving Rijeka their first major chance of the match. Rijeka conceded both goals due to bluntly lazy defense off of Shelbourne’s crosses. Shelbourne found their equalizer off a corner just two minutes after Rijeka took the lead when their Center Back, Sam Bone, made a backside run to the far post and headed in the goal for the Irish side. Shelbourne’s eventual game winner came in similar fashion when a cross went into the box and was scored off a header by their substitute striker. Rijeka failed to respond after going down, failing to create anything out of their only two half chances in the last five minutes of the match. Both goals were conceded due to Rijeka’s defenders not picking up runners in the box, a mistake that cost them their home leg of an ever important European competition spot. If Rijeka can win the leg, they will confirm at minimum a spot in the Conference League with a chance to qualify for the Europa League in the next round with a win in Ireland.
Rijeka will head to Dublin next Tuesday for a chance at redemption against the Irish Premier Division champions. Rijeka’s advancement in the Europa League qualifiers is vital to Croatia’s chances to boost their coefficient score and secure a chance of having three teams competing in European play. Croatia’s coefficient ranking currently sits at 21st behind Cyprus, while Shelbourne and Ireland remain in 31st, their highest ranking in nearly 15 years. If Rijeka manage to get upset by Shelbourne and lose the series, they would drop to a winner takes-all 2-leg series with the winner of Vikingur (Faroe Islands) and Linfield (N. Ireland) for the final spot in the Conference League.
Our pinnacle might be the Victory over Garth Bale and Tottenham when a 24 year old Mislav scored that beautiful HatTrick. That is 6 years in the rear view mirror. Time flies when you live from World/ Euro Cup for some sense of success. It is too hard to have the talent sold off around the world. Hajduk is relegated to being an old folks home, that has games for them to participate in and bingo and bocce in the afternoons.
Rijeka is embarrassing us.
Worst case scenario last season was for Rijeka to win the HNL title for this exact reason.
Great job Fene for starting Egribayat today
He let in 2 softie goals
Maybe start Croatia #1 in the return leg, unless you’re happy to crash out of the CL ??
x.com/Feyenoord/status/1953210472297316371
x.com/Feyenoord/status/1953185836922528050
P.S. winner of Fene vs. Feye player the winner of Benfica vs. Nice
Why did Majstorovic have to be subbed off bc he lost three teeth lol ?
Can someone show him a picture of a typical NHL player, missing all their front teeth, it happens often in games, and the players don’t leave for game lol
That’s indicative of the issue – where is the hunger and desire – to win at all costs (as opposed to leaving the game to go to the dentist lol)
Having said that – Rijeka deserved a penalty in the last kick of the game (handball in the box) – it’s a very similar play to another handball in the box that was called a penalty in the HNL at the weekend (forget which match, please remind)
Lastly, 24sata is also reporting that there is tension in the dressing room – following the Serb Devetak’s on field s*xual assault on Jagusic (leading to the “train”) at the weekend – police have been interviewing teammates etc – in particular if there was a hate-crime element as occurred on the eve of the 30th anniversary
Rijeka were really poor and failed to create any clear-cut chances in front of goal.
The goal that they scored from the penalty spot was gifted to them by the Irish goalkeeper who got caught in possession from a back pass and then clumsily fouled the onrushing Rijeka player.
It should be noted that Shelbourne in 2004/05 season knocked Hajduk out of Europe after losing 3 – 2 in Split they won the second leg at home 2 – 0. At that time, it was Hajduk’s worst and most embarrassing defeat in Europe.
Not worse than that 8-0 aggregate defeat to Debrecen
I wrote AT THAT TIME.
Debrecen was a year later 2005/06.
Don’t worry Mart, we all know that Hajduk is Maminjo’s favourite club. He routes for them all the time, evidenced by all of his posts.
He even has all their jerseys on his wall and memorabilia in his car. Pretty sure I saw him last year wearing a Livaja jersey, and I had no idea he was Maminjo’s favourite player…even before Modrić!
Prgava familija…I always knew Maminjo was part of the fam. 😀