June 3, 2022 - A troubling display in Osijek tonight as the Croatia Nations League campaign kicks off with a 0:3 defeat to Austria.

The Croatia-Austria match was the first in a series of four UEFA Nations League matches the national team will play in 11 days this month. 

On paper, Austria was the easiest opponent for Croatia in this year's Nations League edition, which will serve as preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Croatia was after three points at City Garden tonight, as the next three matches will be even tougher to win points. 

Tonight's match was also the final for the national team at City Garden, as the new Pampas stadium will be used in Osijek from next year.

Lineups

Austria: Lindner - Danso, Trauner, Wöber - Lainer, Laimer, Schlager, Weimann - Sabitzer - Arnautović, Onisiwo

Croatia: Ivušić - Juranović, Pongračić, Ćaleta-Car, Sosa - Brozović, Kovačić, Pašalić - Majer, Kramarić, Brekalo

Recall, Croatia was without Perišić, Gvardiol, Musa, and Livaja, while Luka Modrić will get some rest in this match after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Recap

Croatia had their first chance of the match already in the 2nd minute. Brekalo found Pasalic in the penalty area. In the 8th minute, Majer found Kramaric on the far post and Lainer's reaction nearly caused an own goal. 

Kramaric's shot was blocked in the 14th minute after which Brozovic also had a chance. Croatia was hungry for an early goal. 

Croatia's best chance so far came in the 18th minute. Brekalo again found Pasalic running into the box who missed with his head. 

Pasalic had another chance in front of the goal from a corner in the 21st minute, and Austria had a chance just wide of the goal moments later.

Another chance for Croatia in the 25th minute - Brozovic played the Austria defense to find Pasalic open in the box who shot a second too late. 

Kovacic had the first shot on target in the 28th minute, which was pushed out by the Austria keeper for a corner. Kramaric shot at the keeper in the 31st which went out for another corner. 

Sosa lost the ball in the defense giving Arnautovic a shot on goal, which he luckily hit over. But Austria got their goal in the end - Arnautovic scored for 0:1 in the 41st minute. 

Majer hit the near post for a corner in the 44th minute. The first half ended 0:1 for Austria. 

Borna Barisic went on for Borna Sosa at the start of the second half. 

Croatia came out motivated at the start of the second half. Brekalo and Majer found Pasalic who had a chance in front of the goal in the 47th minute, after which Brozovic missed a chance. 

Ivusic brilliantly defended an Austria shot, though Austria caught the Croatia defense asleep shortly after. Gregoritsch calmly put the ball in the back of the net for 0:2 in the 53rd minute - and in the 57th minute, Austria made it 0:3. 

Dalic subbed off Kramaric, Majer, and Pasalic for Modrić, Budimir, and Vlasic a minute later.

Croatia's shaky defense and inability to find the back of the net did not make for a pleasant atmosphere at City Garden. 

Kovacic came off for Orsic in the 70th minute.

Croatia was without any solid chances in the second half and was lucky that Austria didn't increase their lead. 

The ref added 3 minutes of stoppage time, but the match ended 0:3 for Austria. 

Croatia will welcome France on Monday in Split, followed by the first two away games in Group 1 - on June 10 in Denmark and on June 13 in France. All matches are played at 20:45.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

February 27, 2022 - The NK Osijek 75th birthday jersey will be worn in Sunday's derby against Dinamo before it is available in limited numbers to purchase on Monday. 

On Sunday at 18:00, Osijek will welcome Dinamo in the fight for the HNL title. Osijek also celebrates its 75th birthday in the Dinamo derby. On that occasion, the Slavonian club released a new, limited edition jersey that the players will wear only against Dinamo.

The celebratory jersey is inspired by jerseys from the late 1980s and boasts recognizable white and blue colors.

"A unique feature of Sunday's match will be the birthday jersey in which Osijek will play, created exclusively for the match, which will mark the 75th anniversary of our club. Inspired by jerseys from the late 1980s and with recognizable white and blue colors, Sunday's derby will give a touch of some somewhat forgotten times.

This limited edition jersey to celebrate NK Osijek's 75th birthday will be available from February 28 at the Sportoro store in Avenue Mall. The quantities of these birthday jerseys are limited, and the price is 500 kuna," Osijek informed.

NK Osijek announced its birthday on its website earlier this week:

"The derby at City Garden is of great importance in every way, as is evidenced by the sold-out tickets.

Apart from its great importance in terms of competition, the match between Osijek and Dinamo will be exciting and is eagerly awaited for several other reasons. On Sunday, the only Slavonian first division team will celebrate its 75th birthday, which is also important because it is a jubilee anniversary. The central part of the celebration is the derby at City Garden. 

Sunday's match will also be the jubilee thousandth in the fight for points in the HNL. How convenient it is that the championship's two best-placed teams, separated by only one point in the standings, will play in that match. A great derby in every way, probably the biggest so far in the mutual meetings between Osijek and the multiple-Croatian-champion Dinamo. Of course, the fan atmosphere will be crazy, which is best shown in that all tickets have been sold, which were available to football fans in limited quantities due to epidemiological conditions. 

We remember February 29, 1992.

When we mention the number 1000 in the context of the total number of NK Osijek matches in the Croatian league, it is nice to recall the first one, played on February 29, 1992, in Đakovo. Due to the imminent danger of war, we could not be the hosts at our stadium at that time, and Osijek's first opponent was Zagreb. Thanks to Špehar's goal in the 7th minute, in front of about 3,000 spectators, we celebrated 1:0, which remained in the club's history. Coach Stjepan Čordaš then decided on a team consisting of: Ilica Perić, Ivica Kulešević, Zoran Kastel, Alen Petrović, Davor Rupnik, Tomislav Steinbruckner, Željko Pakasin (since 82. Stijepan Vranješ), Davor Bajsić, Nenad Bjelica, Robert Špehar and Antun Labak (from 46. Slaven Vrbanić)."

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May 25, 2021 - NK Osijek celebrates their historic second-place finish in the Croatian First League (HNL). 

Osijek won in the last round of their historic HNL season and proudly ended their Croatian championship story in 2nd place. 

Slobodan Kadic

Osijek said goodbye to its memorable club season with a familiar result over the last ten months - a victory. Although the points were not as imperative, given that Osijek already secured the second-place spot in the league before the final match, it was the cherry on top of a brilliant season. Osijek ended the Croatian championship by defeating Istra 1961 2:1 at City Garden.

Slobodan Kadic

"Both this game and what happened, in the end, is another picture of everything we have achieved this season. Despite all the problems we had, we did not highlight them, only the positive ones. We believed in these guys, in each one individually. Congratulations to everyone on a great season, not only to the players and coaches but to all who work in the Club, as well as those who were here before us and contributed to the formation of such a team," said coach Nenad Bjelica.

Slobodan Kadic

"The awards we received from the Club for the historic second place, as well as this contact with the fans, further embellished the whole story. I hope that next season we will be able to make this symbiosis supreme, and I believe that such synergy will lead us to new victories."

Slobodan Kadic

Osijek said goodbye to four of its players who will not be in their ranks next season. Just before the match with Istra 1961, Ivica Kulešević, assistant sports director of Osijek and the club manager, handed out framed jerseys and paintings that will always remind Dmytro Lopa, Gutieri Tomelin, Ivan Santini, and Adam Gyurcso of the time spent at City Garden.

Slobodan Kadic

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