March 5, 2023 - The SuperSport HNL 24th round was played from March 3 to 5, 2023. This round saw the derby between Istra and Rijeka, while Lokomotiva scored four goals against Hajduk at Poljud, and Dinamo and Osijek finished 1-1 at Maksimir.
Istra 1961 - Rijeka (0-2)
Istra and Rijeka opened the 24th round on Friday, March 3, in Pula in front of 3,019 fans.
Jankovic made it 0-1 for Rijeka in the 22nd minute. Mlinar was shown a red card in the 70th minute forcing Istra to play with a man down for the remainder of the match. In the 90th minute, Erceg was shown his second yellow and was also sent off. His reaction to the referee may welcome the largest fine in HNL history. Jankovic scored five minutes later for the final 0-2 for Rijeka. Istra held 61% possession and had four attempts on target compared to Rijeka's 8.
Istra is in 6th place with 31 points and a game in hand, while Rijeka is in 7th with 31 points. Istra plays Gorica next, and Rijeka plays Varazdin.
Varazdin - Sibenik (2-0)
Varazdin and Sibenik met on Saturday, March 4, in Varazdin in front of 1,506 fans.
Brodic scored for 1-0 Varazdin to end the first half. Teklic made it 2-0 in the 54th minute. Varazdin had 57% possession throughout the match, with five shots on target compared to Sibenik's four attempts.
Varazdin is in 4th place with 33 points, while Sibenik is in 9th with 20. Varazdin plays Rijeka next, and Sibenik meets Dinamo.
Slaven Belupo - Gorica (1-1)
Belupo and Gorica met on Saturday, March 4, in Koprivnica in front of 613 fans.
The first half went without goals before Crnac made it 1-0 for Gorica in the 53rd minute. Crnac equalized for the final 1-1 less than 10 minutes later. Steenvoorden was shown a red card in the 75th minute, forcing Gorica to play with ten men for the remainder of the match. Belupo had 59% possession and six attempts on target.
Belupo is in 5th place with 33 points, while Gorica is in 10th with 13. Belupo meets Lokomotiva next, and Gorica meets Istra.
Hajduk - Lokomotiva (3-4)
Hajduk and Lokomotiva met on Sunday, March 5, at Poljud in front of 13,499 fans.
Lokomotiva took the lead with two goals from Bubanja and Stojkovic in the 12th and 28th minutes. Lokomotiva almost made it 0-3 in the 35th minute, but the goal was called offside. Mlakar made it 1-2 for Hajduk in the 40th minute, and a Livaja penalty leveled the result to 2-2 in the 66th minute. Two goals from Ibrahim capitalized on catastrophic defensive mistakes, and it was 2-4 for Lokomotiva in the 87th minute. Benrahou came back with a goal in the 89th for the final 3-4. Hajduk had 52% possession and only four attempts on target compared to Lokomotiva's six.
Hajduk remains in 2nd place with 44 points, while Lokomotiva is in 8th with 28. Hajduk plays Osijek next, and Lokomotiva meets Belupo.
Dinamo - Osijek (1-1)
Dinamo and Osijek closed out the 24th round on Sunday at Maksimir in front of 5,187 fans.
Osijek took the lead thanks to Mierez in the 55th minute. However, Dinamo equalized seven minutes later off a Petkovic free kick for the final 1-1. Dinamo had 67% possession and five attempts on goal compared to Osijek's one. Dinamo also had 17 total attempts during the match.
Dinamo is in first place with 56 points and a game in hand, while Osijek is in third with 36. Dinamo plays Sibenik next, and Osijek meets Hajduk.
You can check out the HNL table HERE.
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