League

Rijeka PARK
Spectators: 8441 (Terracing: 6332, Seating: 1941, VIP seats: 168) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Nikša Radović made the kick off which started today's match. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Zvonimir Roginek got a good chance for a goal in the 3rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a little luck, Hlapičina HNK's Niko Kirac got control of the ball when Zvonimir Roginek tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Nikša Radović managed to get in a good position for a shot. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's supporters rose to their feet, but Nikša Radović was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Niko Kirac breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 16th minute of the match Fabijan Bobanović sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Niko Kirac skillfully saved the ball. When the match had gone on for 21 minutes, Nikša Radović took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Niko Kirac to make any attempt to save it. After 28 played minutes Hlapičina HNK got a freekick which was hit by Adam Sertić. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nikša Radović in the 31st minute of play forced Hlapičina HNK's goalkeeper Niko Kirac to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 33 minutes into the match, Hlapičina HNK's goal looked a bit too open when Nikša Radović came free, but Niko Kirac reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ratko Komadinić hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Milan Vusak in the 40th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Egon Adamić prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience was convinced that Zdenko Taslak's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Egon Adamić was relentless in the 42nd minute of the game. Dragutin Ilakovac's late challenge caught a Hlapičina HNK's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dragutin Ilakovac helped the player get up and apologised. Dragutin Ilakovac kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Zdenko Taslak stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 52 played minutes, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Fabijan Bobanović shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Niko Kirac came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim reached it. If Milan Vusak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Zdenko Taslak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Milan Vusak sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nikša Radović sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zvonimir Roginek in the 70th minute of play forced Hlapičina HNK's goalkeeper Niko Kirac to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Milan Vusak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 75 minutes into the match, Hlapičina HNK's goal looked a bit too open when Nikša Radović came free, but Niko Kirac reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 76 minutes into the game, Nikša Buljan was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Hlapičina HNK's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave TSG 1899 Hoffenheim the free kick. In the 77th minute, Nikša Buljan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 77 played minutes, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Jerko Rončević shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Niko Kirac came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim reached it. After a rather tough play, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Nikša Radović got a free kick in the 81st minute. Zdenko Taslak fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Egon Adamić having to interfere. Milan Vusak blasted a shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Egon Adamić having to make a save. In the 90th match minute, Hlapičina HNK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nikša Buljan to maneuver through the defense. Nikša Radović sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 94th minute, Dragutin Ilakovac ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Niko Kirac was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-0. For all the effort they put into the match, the Hlapičina HNK players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.