League

BETONAC
Spectators: 8024 (Terracing: 6020, Seating: 1845, VIP seats: 159) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joško Pešorda made the kick off which started today's match. The supporters of Susedgrad Uskok booed when NK Shpaolin was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Radimir Džamonja didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gašpar Predan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jakša Brkan in the 21st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Adolf Nađ saved NK Shpaolin from getting behind. When Njegoš Perković fell near the penalty area in the 22nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored NK Shpaolin's protests and gave Njegoš Perković a yellow card for diving instead. Jakša Brkan scored 0-1 in the 23rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Adolf Nađ, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After 26 played minutes Susedgrad Uskok got a freekick which was hit by Robert Minđek. In the 27th minute Joško Pešorda shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zlatko Šoštarić saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Damir Novačić fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zlatko Šoštarić having to interfere. The crowd rose to their feet as NK Shpaolin's Joško Pešorda slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Zlatko Šoštarić. That made the score 1-1 after 32 minutes of play. Jakša Brkan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Adolf Nađ tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jakša Brkan was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd minute Damir Novačić shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zlatko Šoštarić saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jakša Brkan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 67th minute, Jakša Brkan made a precise shot to the right of Adolf Nađ. NK Shpaolin's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Adolf Nađ showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gašpar Predan, who was totally free with the ball in the 71st minute. Adolf Nađ took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jakša Brkan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 83rd minute Damir Novačić shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zlatko Šoštarić saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Joško Pešorda's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zlatko Šoštarić read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 85th minute of play. In the 88th minute, Joško Pešorda got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Susedgrad Uskok eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.