IF ONLY THERE WAS EXTRA-TIME

The stakes were high on Wednesday for both Osijek and Hajduk because the semi-finals were a big deal for both. It was known that it will be a different kind of match in comparison to Saturday’s, when the reward was championship points, primarily because this time it’s the fate of elimination for the loser. Hajduk emerged victorious and was congratulated by the home team in front of 4 thousand spectators, who couldn’t be stopped by a downpour as they made their way to the stadium and who had the chance to see an interesting match in which the final decision on who will be the victor came during the final moments of the game as Erceg scored for the final 3-1. Up until then, Osijek was trying to tie with Hajduk and hoped for extra-time, but to no avail.

Maric again the ace in the hole

The beginning of the match was good for Osijek. Pressure was created in the first 30 minutes and Grezda’s two chances for a lead sadly stayed unrealized, while Ejupi was a split second away from a score when Barisic shot the ball in front of the enemy goal. Hajduk had their chance with Ohandza who missed the ball in the precise moment when he found himself in a promising situation, but he was much more concrete in the 39^th minute when Erceg shot the ball to him and Kamerunac performing a chip shot for 1:0. Hajduk went to the break with an advantage, even though Osijek played hard and tough, with a lot of enthusiasm in front of the away team’s gates and their penalty area. The second half saw Osijek determined in their wish to score a tie, and Maric proved himself an ace in the hole yet again by scoring a goal that put Zekic-s squad on the map again.

Nižić shouldn’t have stayed alone

In the 59^th minute, there was enough time for Osijek to turn the tide, which Osijek’s fans eagerly anticipated because they saw what was happening (Hajradinovic’s “free kick”, the void goal by Simunec due to offside...) showed that the home team would again make Stipica sweat. The impression was that Osijek will prevail, which didn’t mean that Hajduk didn’t show ambition and will to strike and score for a lead. Ohandza’s uncomfortable shot heralded that possibility, then Nizic pounced at a chance after an assistance from the corner and beat Antolovic.

Osijek’s goalkeeper didn’t gauge the situation well as he defended the goal, but it must be stressed that Hajduk’s most dangerous player shouldn’t have been able to just waltz in and score a goal uncontested. That’s how it was last year at Gradski Vrt, when he entered the books as a brilliant striker in the practically same fashion. That score was in Hajduk’s favor, and Osijek, with all their effort, couldn’t claim the win even when granted 30 additional minutes that would’ve been played in the extra-time.