February 11, 12 & 13, 2022
Friday February 11, 2022
HNK Sibenik 0-5 NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac ( att : 522 )
Karrica ( 19 ), Bristric ( 22 ), Majstorovic ( 45 ), Galesic ( 49 ), Frigen ( 75 )
Saturday February 12, 2022
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 1-1 NK Istra 1961 ( att : 326 )
Kulenovic ( 80 ); Beljo ( 54 )
GNK Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 HNK Gorica ( att : 2,432 )
Ademi ( 55 ), Orsic ( 89 ); Kalik ( 62 )
Sunday February 13, 2022
HNK Hajduk Split 3-1 NK Slaven Belupo ( att : 9,759 )
Sahiti ( 13 ), Grgic ( 27 ), Livaja ( 71 pen ); Zapata ( 52 )
NK Osijek 1-0 vs HNK Rijeka ( att : 3,406 )
Cestic ( 85 og )
Round 22 saw wins for the top 4 sides so the top of the table showed no change. However, Hajduk had further underlined their title ambitions with the signing of 34 year old ex-Blackburn, Fiorentina, Milan, Roma and Atletico Madrid star striker Nikola Kalinic ( 42 caps ) from Hellas Verona.
On the field of play, Hajduk won their third consecutive match since the winter break in ominous fashion, and extended their unbeaten run to 9 matches. With Kalinic in the starting line-up, Hajduk took an early lead when Kalinic’s incisive through ball put Sahiti clear, and the Kosovan calmly slotted past the Slaven keeper. Slaven were in danger of being overwhelmed but they held out until the 27th minute, with Grgic’s mis-hit left-footed volley bounced over a few defenders and into the corner for his first goal since signing from LASK.
Colombian Hansel Zapata, on loan from Sheriff Tiraspol, brought Slaven back into the game, neatly evading Elez and then producing a smart finish. After Slaven’s Bozac was shown a second yellow card, Livaja’s penalty, his 18th goal of the season, clinched the win for Hajduk and avenged the 2-3 loss in Koprivnica, their last defeat. The margin of victory could easily have been much greater but for some good saves and brave defending.
Dinamo left it late to score the winner against Gorica. After an even first half, Dinamo opened the scoring in the 55th minute, North Macedonian Ademi sliding in at the far post to turn home compatriot Ristovski’s header across the face of the goal. Gorica were not behind for long though, and Jovicic’s delicate chip put Australian Kalik in space for a smart first-time finish into the roof of the net from around 8 yards. Dinamo laid siege to the Gorica goal, and missed a couple of great chances before Orsic’s 20 yard volley from a corner went through a crowd of players, and took a deflection to wrong foot Gorica keeper Kotarski. Dinamo now have 6 consecutive victories.
Osijek and Rijeka met in a crucial game for both side’s title hopes, with Osijek winning with a fortunate own goal 5 minutes from time to keep then in second place, and condemned Rijeka to a second away loss since the resumption. Osijek dominated the match and Rijeka keeper Labrovic made a number of fine saves. The goal came when the unfortunate Cestic stuck out a foot in an attempt to control Jurcevic’s sliding pull-back, but only succeeded in diverting the ball into the net from quite a tight angle. It would have been a good finish had he meant it ! Rijeka are now 6 points off the lead, having played one game more. Osijek have now won both matches since their unexpected home loss to Slaven.
Lokomotiva were up against it when Albanian centre-back Salihu was shown a second yellow card for a needless foul just before half-time. Up to that point that had been the better side against Istra, and it got worse when Beljo gave Istra the lead in the 54th minute with a curling left footed finish for his 8th goal of the season. However, Lokomotiva came back strongly, and after missing two gilt edged chances, Kulenovic rose to power home a header from 6 yards for a deserved equaliser.
The biggest shock of the day came at Sibenik where Dragovoljac claimed only their second win of the season, doing so in emphatic fashion by 5 goals to nil. The question was asked where has this Dragovoljac side been all season ? The unfair answer is Rijeka, as four of their youngsters loaned for experience in the second half of these season were on the scoresheet, with the other goal coming from Majstorovic, who moved to 4 for the season.
The first goal came on 19 minutes, Karrica being left unmarked at the back post to direct a header just inside the near post from inside the six yard box for this second goal in three games. The second goal came two minutes later with a swift break and Karrica unselfishly laying the ball off for Bristric to steer past the keeper.
On the stroke of half time Frigan was chopped down for a penalty which Majstorovic coolly converted to put Dragovoljac into dreamland. Galesic was on hand to turn home a rebound to make it 4-0 after a free-kick from Karrica had been headed against a post, and the scoring was completed when Frigan latched onto a poor back pass to make it 5. As a knee-jerk reaction to such a heavy, and unexpected loss, Sibenik coach Ferdo Milin was sacked, having only been appointed in January and in charge for just three matches……….
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