We record the results, but we measure the Academy’s work by the number of players who reach the first team.
The First Youth League gives our young players competitive matches at national level against their peers from other Croatian clubs. Every new match brings something new to learn, and the coaches give everyone a chance to prove themselves. In recent days we hosted the youth teams of Rijeka and Varaždin at Opus Arena.
The juniors beat Rijeka 1:0 in Round 12 and stayed second in the table. The only goal was scored by our youth international Luka Kolar in the 17th minute. Line-up: Adžić, Tadić, Ljubojević, Sabo, Vinogradac, Cipar, Čočaj, Tomašević (‘69. Kolarević), Gagulić, Turić (‘75. Šarić) and Kolar (‘63. Marković). The White-Blues have eight wins, two draws and two defeats.
The cadets also got the better of Rijeka, winning 2:1. The goals came from Alberto Krasnić in the 25th and Rafael Peršić in the 51st minute. Line-up: Janković, Rošta, Dančević, Purgar, Lipovac, Maltar, Krasnić, Odobašić (‘46. Stojanović), Š. P. Jaman (‘88. Barišić), Peršić (‘85. Ravlić) and Kovačić (‘70. Ljubanović). In 12 matches the cadets have recorded six wins, two draws and four defeats.
The pioneers lost 1:5 to Varaždin in Round 10. They took the lead as early as the 2nd minute through Leon Tot, missed a penalty shortly afterwards, and the visitors then turned the match around. Line-up: Mokrović (‘86. Idrizović), Major (‘70. Kocijan), Međugorac, Boduljak, Paradžik (‘46. Lazić), Vukić (‘46. Momčilović), Đaković (‘70. Perić), Arlović (‘61. Žigić), Vladika, Basov and Tot. The pioneers have four wins, one draw and five defeats.
In the national Cadets II League project, Osijek beat Varaždin 3:0. The goals were scored by Marko Tomić in the 45th, Petar Šimić in the 74th and Sergej Družijanić-Vidačić in the 85th minute. Line-up: Mazalović, Majić, Kovačević (‘83. Dančević), Moržan, Tadić (‘83. Vidačić), Mrkonjić (‘54. Šarčević), Bubalo (‘73. Bračun), Šimić, Tomić (‘54. Peršić), Kovačić (‘83. Vrkić) and Uhlik. The White-Blues are second in the table with eight wins and two defeats in 10 rounds.
Points and league positions are recorded round by round, but what matters most comes later: how many players from our youth teams make it to the first team. The Academy has already produced many players for the first team and a number of Croatian youth internationals, and each of these matches is part of the same process.
