After a penalty shootout, Hajduk defeated Lokomotiva for a spot in the Croatian Cup final!
Hajduk will play in the final of the Croatian Cup after winning 5-3 (0-0, 1-1) in a penalty shootout against Lokomotiva in Zagreb. During regulation and extra time, the game was 1:1, reports Gol.hr on March 13, 2018.
Lokomotiva’s goal was scored by Ante Majstorović (54th minute), while Hamza Barry was the scorer for Hajduk in the 58th minute. During penalties, Caktaš, Said, Filip and Radošević celebrated goals, while Šemper saved Bašić’s shot. Ivanušec and Havojić scored for Lokomotiva, while Majer and Musa missed the target.
Hajduk was the much better team throughout the game, creating many opportunities which they, unfortunately, couldn’t materialize into goals. Though Hajduk’s defense was responsible for Majstorović’s goal in the 54th minute, the Split club managed to equalize just four minutes later. 10 minutes into the game, first official Željko Bebek also missed a clear penalty for Hajduk after Majstorović fouled Said from behind.
Hajduk was the much better team from the start of the game, and their best chance was missed in the 24th minute when defender Borja Lopez hit the crossbar from five meters out. In the 40th minute, Lokomotiva goalkeeper Šemper saved a shot by Gyursco, and in the 43rd minute, Said missed finding the back of the net from Juranović’s cross. This was the last opportunity in the first half where Hajduk had 70 percent possession and eight shots on goal, while Lokomotiva had none.
The first goal of the game came in the 54th minute. Lokomotiva punished Hajduk with their first shot on goal from a free kick which broke through Hajduk’s defense and found Ante Majstorović. Hajduk equalized four minutes later when Gyursco found the boot of Hamza Barry who used fancy footwork to sink past Šemper. In the 72nd minute, an error by Šemper saw Hajduk’s Kovačević miss an open net, while the 78th minute saw Majstorović block Said's shot at an empty goal for the last chance of regulation time.
Extra time began with a great opportunity by Hajduk after Toma Bašić's strike hit just left of the goal. The exhaustion of both sides was apparent during extra time, allowing not much to happen until the 120th minute. The winner was then decided during a penalty shootout where Hajduk won 5:3.
This is the eleventh Cup final for Hajduk. Though the club has won six Cup trophies to date, the last time they celebrated was in 2013 in the final against Lokomotiva. The Zagreb club’s final against Hajduk was the only final they have played to date.
In the second semifinal on April 4, Dinamo and Rijeka will play at Maksimir in Zagreb. The Croatian Cup final is scheduled for May 23rd in Vinkovci.
3500 spectators saw the match tonight at Kranjčevića Stadium.
Translated from Gol.hr
