OSIJEK. Osijek tops Istra 1961 1-0 after R. Miérez scored just 1 goal (72′).

Reda Boultam missed a decisive penalty (86′). That would have allowed Istra 1961 to draw the match.​

The match was played at the Stadion Gradski vrt stadium in Osijek on Wednesday and it started at 3:00 pm local time. The referee was Igor Pajač with the support of Sanja Rođak-Karšić and Ivan Starčević. The 4th official was Ivana Martinčić. The weather was clear. The temperature was pleasant at 16 degrees Celsius or 60.78 Fahrenheit. The humidity was 31%.​

Match Statistics​

Ball possession

None of the teams had a clear upper hand in terms of ball possession. Osijek was in possession of the ball for 48% of the time vs. Istra 1961 that controlled the ball for 52% of the time.

Attitude and shots

Osijek was more pushing with 92 dangerous attacks and 16 shots of which 7 were on target. This is one of the reasons why Osijek won the match​.

Osijek shot 16 times, 7 on target, 6 off target. On the opposite side, Istra 1961 shot 9 times, 2 on target, 7 off target.

Cards

Osijek received 3 yellow cards (Marin Leovac, Ivan Fiolic and D. Bukvić). Regarding the opposition, Istra 1961 didn’t receive any yellow card.

Standings

After this match, Osijek will have 42 points to hold in the 3rd place. Talking about the opposition, Istra 1961 will stay with 38 points to remain in the 7th place.

Next matches

In the next match in the 1. HNL, Osijek will host Rijeka on the 3rd of June with a 24-17 head to head record in favor of Rijeka (19 draws).

Istra 1961 will host Gorica on the 13th of May with a 8-4 head to head record in favor of Gorica (8 draws).

Osijek – Formation

Osijek started with a mid-fielder-oriented line-up (4-1-4-1).

The manager Stjepan Tomas decided to play with the following team: Marko Malenica (6.7), Nail Omerović (6.8), Adrian Leon Barišić (6.5), Yevgen Cheberko (6.6), Marin Leovac (7.2), Mihael Žaper (7.0), Domagoj Bukvić (6.8), Ivan Fiolić (7.3), Mijo Caktaš (6.6), Kristijan Lovrić (6.8) and Ramón Miérez (7.2).

The home team had on the bench: Marko Barešić, Nikola Janjić, Mario Jurčevič (6.2), Ivan Cvijanović, Diego Barri, Ognjen Bakić, Josip Špoljarić (6.7), Filip Živković and Mihret Topčagić.

Osijek could not rely on the presence of Diego Barri (injured).

Substitutions

Osijek made 4 changes: Marin Leovac for Mario Jurčevič (46′), Mihael Zaper for Diego Barri (78′), Ivan Fiolic for Josip Špoljarić (81′) and Kristijan Lovric for Ognjen Bakić (88′).

Best player: Ivan Fiolić​

The player that probably impressed the most for Osijek was Ivan Fiolić even if he didn’t score the decisive goal.

His rating is (7.3) with 43 passes (72% accurate) and 2 key passes. He was won 3 duels out of 5. He performed 3 crosses.

Istra 1961 – Formation

Istra 1961 started with a aggressive line-up (4-3-3).

Gonzalo Manuel García García played with: Lovro Majkić (7.9), Luka Hujber (6.4), Dario Marešić (6.6), Iurie Iovu (6.5), Luka Marin (7.1), Abdallahi Mahmoud (7.0), Oleksandr Petrusenko (7.2), Facundo Cáseres (7.2), Advan Kadušić (6.7), Monsef Bakrar (6.9) and Matej Vuk (7.0).

These were the players on the bench: Marijan Ćorić, Jan Paus-Kunšt, Luka Bradarić, Frano Mlinar (6.6), Tomislav Duvnjak (6.8), Slavko Blagojević, Lovre Knežević, Antonio Maurić, Reda Boultam (6.9), Zoran Josipović, Marin Žgomba and Mateo Lisica (6.8).

Istra 1961 could not rely on the presence of Frano Mlinar (injured).

Substitutions

Istra 1961 made 4 changes: Advan Kadusic for Mateo Lisica (63′), Abdallahi Mahmoud for Frano Mlinar (63′), Matej Vuk for Reda Boultam (64′) and I. Iovu for Tomislav Duvnjak (73′).

Best player: Lovro Majkić​

The most impressive player for Istra 1961 was the goalkeeper: Lovro Majkić. His rating is 7.92. He saved 1 penalty. He performed 6 saves.

Results of the day

These are the results of the day in the 1. HNL.​

• Gorica – Hajduk Split – 0-0
• Dinamo Zagreb – Varaždin – 2-0
• Osijek – Istra 1961 – 1-0