After Hajduk, Osijek scores three times in a match for two consecutive series, but this time, without the opponents scoring.
Slaven Belupo failed to score at Gradski Vrt for the 6th consecutive time and Osijek secured a fantastic victory, one of the best this season. Before the match on Good Friday, NK Osijek had defeated Inter, Lokomotiva and Rudes with the same score, securing 3 goals on home terrain for the second time in a row, after a tie against Hajduk.
It’s surely a reason for revelry, along with the fact that the opponents failed to score, them being much more consistent and on point. Frankly, the away team wasn’t short on opportunities, but were all in all not the favorites, being 14 pts. behind Osijek.
Right On Time
The Pharmacists didn’t force any outplaying maneuvers in the first half, for their focus was to utilize a counterattack, so that Osijek had the ball possession and better chances at the opposing goal. Surely the best chance was unused by Lopa, who almost missed the post after Barisic’s great cross, but the striker scored in the 45th minute, after a quite the stir had erupted and a few missed opportunities by the Koprivnicians to shoot the ball out of the penalty area.
It was this moment that determined the remainder of the match, because Osijek managed to get ahead towards the end of the 1st half, thereby gaining the morale advantage over the opposing team. Quite important were the midfielders, especially Mioc and Mudradzija, who managed to assert their dominance and, through aggression and bold pushes, managed to penetrate into the penalty area, creating opportunities for a score.
Lopa’s Return to Form
Maric had an ideal chance for 2-0 at the start of the 2nd half, Grgic and Mudradzija being menaces afterwards, only for Slaven Belupo to almost close the gap for a tie via Ivanovski, but he wasn’t precise and Lopa was granted a penalty kick, just as in the last series, after which Maric shot and the ball flew true.
Zekic was determined to send newcomer Pilj, who came from Osijek II and showed his quickness and acuity, guaranteeing a placement in the main roster for the future, possibly. In the second consecutive showing, striker Lopa is returning to form, so that it’s a pity that he won’t be in Kranjcevic Street on Tuesday because he “earned” his 3rd yellow card.
