Up until minute 86, Osijek held the tie with one man less, only to receive two shows at the end.
It’s usually said that every match serves some kind of purpose and in that vein, we’ll gauge Osijek’s friendly match performance against Haladas VSE. 3-1 was the end score, the home team winning, just like last week’s game in Zaprešić, which must be infuriating for coach Zekić because neither he nor anyone else isn’t indifferent towards a loss. Regardless of the fact that Osijek is, more often than not, broad in its roster diversity, the absence of a large number of standard players is sometimes going to show on the field.
In Szombathely, Šorša, Bočkaj, Grezda, Barać and Mudradžija were absent, while Lopa could play only one half time after having been injured in the first half. Besides that, the fact that the guest team played without Šimunec post-56th minute influenced the outcome, Šimunec being responsible for a foul as the enemy was in full offense mode.
Zekić hasn’t resolved Uncertainties
To be frank, Osijek was good even with one man missing as they played in a changed formation with three players in the last row, them faltering as Haladas scored twice for the win. It was reward for the home team, their stubbornness and will to mark the opening of the Sportkomplexum a grand one. What Zekić was left with were doubts about the team composition he wants to craft for the match against Cibalija in the upcoming League match.
In the Slavonian El Classico, Hajradinović, Boban, Lukić & Oušić will be missing so that Osijek’s logistics staff requires a change of plans, especially in the midfield. The test at Szombathely hasn’t dispelled uncertainty, since Osijek’s coach expected more from his boys who had won his trust as they played from minute one.
An Impressive Opening Ceremony of the Sportkomplexum
Despite the defeat, impressions of the new stadium remain positive. It was a delight to have played during the opening and the home team deserves praise and congratulations for their enviable organization of the whole ceremony. Through a simple, yet intriguing and fun program, we could find out something about the cultural and historical peculiarities of Szombathely, which houses 80,000 citizens.
Sports fans in Szombathely received a beautiful stadium, along with a sports hall next to it, but what remains for Osijek to be remembered is the fact that they were there at the ceremonial opening and the first official match, broadcast on Hungarian national television. Every fan of football must feel comfortable in such an arena, and it is a delight that our club will begin with the building of a new stadium, so that Osijek will be expanded – one dimension higher.
