November 22, 2021 - The 16th round of the Croatian First League was held from November 19 to 21, 2021. This round saw two of the biggest derbies in Croatian football, as Hajduk topped Rijeka at Rujevica and Dinamo and Osijek drew at Maksimir. Here is our HNL round 16 recap.
Hr. Dragovoljac v. Slaven Belupo (1:2)
Dragovoljac and Belupo opened the 16th round on Friday, November 19, 2021, in Zagreb.
Bosec opened the match for an early Belupo lead at 0:1 in the 3rd minute. Krstanovic increased their lead with a penalty in the 10th minute for 0:2. Majstorovic gave Dragovoljac some hope with a goal in the 73rd minute, but after a Lukic red card in the 87th minute, the match ended 1:2 for Belupo.
Dragovoljac is currently in the last place with 7 points, while Belupo is in 9th with 13.
Dinamo v. Osijek (1:1)
Dinamo and Osijek met on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Maksimir Stadium.
Fiolic put Osijek ahead in the 16th minute for 0:1 at the half. Petkovic equalized in the 80th minute for 1:1, which was the final score.
Dinamo is currently in 3rd place with 28 points (and two games less), while Osijek is in 1st with 31 (and one game less).
Istra 1961 v. Sibenik (3:4)
Istra and Sibenik met in Pula on November 20, 2021.
Jakolis put Sibenik ahead in the 38th minute for 0:1, before Marin scored the equalizer 6 minutes later for 1:1 at the half. Beljo missed a penalty for Istra in the 59th minute, and Sibenik retook the lead thanks to Delic two minutes later (1:2). Delic scored again in the 72nd minute for 1:3, before Beljo redeemed himself and scored for 2:3 in the 82nd. Miskovic equalized 5 minutes later for 3:3, but it was Jakolis to score the winning goal for Sibenik in the 7th minute of stoppage time for the final 3:4.
Istra is in 8th place with 15 points (and one game less), while Sibenik is in 7th with 18.
Gorica v. Lokomotiva (2:2)
Gorica and Lokomotiva met in Velika Gorica on Sunday, November 21, 2021.
Fruk put Gorica ahead in the 2nd minute for 1:0. Prsir increased Gorica's lead to 2:0 in the 24th. Ibrahim gave Lokomotiva hope before halftime, scoring in the 34th minute for 1:2. Pivaric scored the equalizer for Lokomotiva in the 60th minute and the final 2:2.
Gorica is currently in 6th place with 22 points, while Lokomotiva is in 5th with 22.
Rijeka v. Hajduk (2:3)
Rijeka and Hajduk closed out the 16th round with the Adriatic Derby at Rujevica on Sunday, November 21, 2021.
After his first goal was called offside, Livaja scored just before the halftime whistle to put Hajduk ahead 0:1. Drmic equalized in the 53rd minute for 1:1. Rijeka was awarded a penalty in the 79th minute, which Muric scored for 2:1. Hajduk followed suit with a penalty five minutes later. Livaja was solid for 2:2. Hajduk had a corner in the match's final play, which found Mlakar's head for the 2:3 Hajduk win.
Rijeka is currently in 2nd place with 30 points (and one game less), while Hajduk is in 4th with 27 (and one game less).
You can see the full HNL table HERE.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
