It’s easy to comment after the match is done, but the question is how would have things developed if Osijek had used their chances at 0:0...
that disappointed Osijek and its fans. For the first time since season start, Osijek was at a 4-goal disadvantage, so that Zekić’s dissatisfaction is understandable, who had great expectations of which his team was aware. Football is a game in which mistakes are capitalized on by the opposing team, who was of high caliber and who made Osijek pay a great price this time.
Osijek could’ve taken the lead first
Things could’ve ended up different, but the state of the matter is how it is and it cannot be changed now. Who knows how the teams would match up if Ejupi or Grezda had scored during the opening portion of the match when they had great chances out of which Osijek could’ve pulled out a lead. In front of Osijek’s goal, Soudani turned the first real attempt into a masterful shot and goal. That’s why he is the best player in the League, a man who creates and brings a turn in his team’s favor, that being confirmed by a 2:0 lead.
All of that is, of course, a paving of the way for the away team to win the duel. Not minimalizing their being deserving of a win, they did in fact cause a foul in the 50th minute, which is corroborated by a recording, bringing Muradzija down in the penalty area, but the referee Pajač didn’t award Osijek a penalty kick. If they had done it, Osijek would have had a chance in the early portion of the second half to score for 1:2 and increase their chances to go for a tie or possibly a win.
A defeat is no tragedy, but the mistakes keep being repeated
A single defeat shouldn’t be tragedized, which doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be analyzed and discussed in the locker room in order to see the leaks that need patching. Zekić’s team was repeating mistakes from their preparations before the match, and when things started going downhill, it was hard to stop the snowball effect. As a quantum of solace, our boys managed to score twice and to minimize the negative impact of the defeat, but they weren’t far from a third goal which was sadly not to be seen. To say honestly, that extra goal wouldn’t have been enough to cheer us up, but the general impression of the match would be a bit better. Nevertheless, the chance for redemption is on Saturday, in a rematch against Rijeka at Gradski Vrt.
