The Boys in White-and-Blue fulfilled their coach’s request and defeated Rijeka in front of their fans.
Rujevica fell to Osijek’s assault! For the first time ever, NK Osijek won at this stadium since Rijeka assumed it as their home pitch. A bad streak was broken of 13 consecutive defeats that Osijek had played while being the away team in Kvarner, also counting the matches at Kantrida. After 7 years, Osijek defeated Rijeka in their own turf, deservingly so!
Zoran Zekić announced time and time again that it was high time Osijek triumphed as the away team against a true rival on the top of the latter and the current champion, Rijeka. He therefore prepared his team, not only tactically, but also psychologically. During a meeting in the hotel with the players, immediately before departure to the Rijeka stadium, he told his players that they are of high quality and that they ought to defeat Rijeka for the second time this season, but that they had to firmly believe in it.
Malenica showed Confidence
A torrent of rain wasn’t enough to deter Osijek from the choach’s requests. It was visible from the start that the away team is well-organized, disciplined and very nimble in all departments, so that they left very little space for their enemy. It’s therefore not surprising that Rijeka had only one real chance in the first half by the dangerous Gavranović, along with one more chance by Acosty.
Mudražija and Grezda made good efforts at the enemy goal. As the match progressed, the home team was eager to create opportunities, showing initiative, so that they scored and took the lead. It’s quite hard to say how the game would have ended if Grezda hadn’t scored for a tie after Gavranović’s score. As Grezda scored, he showed skill and dexterity during his free kick, made after a great play by Bočkaj. What ensued was that part of the game where the key role was played by Malenica, Osijek’s illustrious goalkeeper, who defended the goal from a few uncomfortable shots, showing great confidence as he stood guard over the goal.
Bočkaj the Free Kick Master
Osijek wasn’t a club that could be described as having low drive during the final moments of the match, as the victor’s name was still uncertain. Grezda, who moved through Rijeka’s defenses, gave the home team’s defenders a run for their money, when they stopped him in minute 79 during a foul that resulted as one of his attacks. Bočkaj then showed the level of his skill during a free kick. He shot the ball over the player wall into an indefensible area of the goal, bringing Osijek 3 points and a great victory at Rujevica.
This is Bočkaj’s 4th goal following a foul this season. It started against Santa Coloma, followed by a game against Istra in Pula, and a glorious shot against PSV at Gradski Vrt. As a reminder, he shot the post against Rudeš, so that Osijek can safely say that it has one of the best free kickers in recent club history. All players deserve congratulations, spearheaded by the great team captain Škorić, who has developed into the best mid-defender in the National Croatia League.
