As he usually accentuates, Zoran Zekic says that we all tend to be overly critical of our team’s plays that sometimes really are inconsistent. One such event happened during the match against UE Santa Coloma in Andorra. After impressive showings during preparations in Slovenia, it is understandable that the public and the fans had high expectations during the start of the European season. Regardless of repeated expressing that one mustn’t underestimate his enemy, the fact is that everyone disregarded the Andorrans, putting Osijek as the clear favorite. Objectively speaking, that is truly the case, but things don’t go always according to statistics.
The Home Team Put up a Fight
It was certain that the home team will play defensive, but irrespective of that, Zekic couldn’t realize everything that was planned. The away team was struggling and played with the patience of those who followed their premier European game with fervor. NK Osijek admitted that they were nervous, given that everyone expected a sure win, intolerant of mistakes. Then, empty plays start happening, all the while the clock is ticking.
No one can dispute Osijek’s intentions, but the first half’s tries were barely menacing. On the other side, the enemy cemented their barricades and resisted any and all efforts, which weren’t thought out properly.
Osijek tried and sped up their game in the second half, but it wasn’t possible to achieve any success. Santa Coloma’s defense solved situations efficiently when the ball flew from the flanks into the penalty area and individual actions by Knezevic, Ejupi, Grezda and co. weren’t fruitful to say the least. Post-78 minutes was worrying in a game without scores and the Maltese referee allowed a 11-meter shot in favor of Osijek after 2 potential disputes. Ejupi missed, but Mioc finally scored after netting the rebounded ball. The doors were open at last and we could finally take a breath and when Lukic scored at the very end, all questions were finally answered. Osijek finally clawed their way to the advantage that they can’t lose come July 6th, in Gradski Vrt.
In that sense, after their loss in La Vella, Santa Coloma’s amateurs sadly haven’t managed to win in their 13th European match. Osijek won new points for Croatian football that add significant numbers to our clubs in the international scene, which is very important. In conclusion, we can say that things went well and our eyesa re fixed on Lucerne in the 2nd qualifiers.
