HNK Hajduk Split suffered their first defeat of the HNL season, losing 3-0 away to HNK Rijeka. The match exposed serious defensive frailties and a lack of cutting edge in attack, despite Hajduk enjoying the majority of possession.
The team entered the match at Poljud as league leaders with 16 points from seven games. However, Rijeka proved more clinical. The opening goal for the hosts was scored by T. Dantas in the 35th minute, assisted by D. Adu Adjei. Just before half-time, in added time, S. Vignato doubled the lead. Adu Adjei then got on the scoresheet himself in the 57th minute, sealing the result.
Hajduk had 59% possession and 13 shots, with seven on target, but failed to turn the tide. The manager made five substitutions during the second half, including the introductions of A. Del Moral and D. Hadzikadunic, but to little effect. Yellow cards were shown to Ron Raçi, Toni Silić, and Khalil Fayad.
While the defeat ends an excellent run of four consecutive league wins, Hajduk still holds top spot in the HNL. The team's top scorer this season remains M. Šego with four goals. Attention now turns to the big derby against Dinamo Zagreb, scheduled for October 10th at Poljud. Before that, the squad will have a chance to analyse and correct their mistakes. Check detailed match statistics on our stats page and review the preparation schedule for the next match on fixtures.
