April 12, 2023 - Hajduk beat Slaven Belupo on Wednesday and will play Sibenik in the SuperSport Croatian Cup final on May 24 in Rijeka.

The second SuperSport Croatian Football Cup semi-final match was played in Koprivnica between Slaven Belupo and Hajduk on Wednesday. Recall that Šibenik sensationally defeated Dinamo in the first SuperSport Croatian Cup semi-final last week. 

Lineups

Slaven Belupo: Čović, Bosec, Božić, Tepšić, Soldo, Jambor, Marina, Mioč, Tepšić, Mudražija, Crnac, Hoxha

Hajduk: Lučić - Mikanović, Ferro, Vušković, Melnjak - Grgić, Krovinović - Pukštas, Benrahou, Mlakar - Livaja

Luka Vušković returned to Hajduk's starting 11 after missing the last round of the HNL.

Match report

The first half was wholly uneventful. Slaven Belupo had a chance to go ahead in the 6th minute had they capitalized on goalkeeper Lucic's cardinal mistake. In the next 20 or so minutes, there were no real chances for either side, and the sprinklers interrupting the match in the 30th minute was the most exciting action thus far. 

Livaja had a chance in the 32nd minute, and a nasty collision between Melnjak and Tepsic resulted in bloody heads and a stretcher to the nearest hospital for the Belupo defender. Hlevnjak entered instead of the injured Tepsic, and six minutes of stoppage time were added. 

The second half had more energy from both sides. In the 53rd minute, Pukstas crossed from the right, and Livaja shot from close range with his head. But the ball went wide of the goal. After consulting VAR, Hajduk was granted a penalty three minutes later after a handball was played in the box. Livaja scored for the Hajduk lead (0-1). 

Hajduk had a chance to increase their lead in the 76th minute, but nothing came of that action. Belupo was definitely pressuring to equalize, while Hajduk was waiting for the counterattack to bring their second goal. After five minutes of stoppage time, Hajduk held their lead and secured their spot in the final. 

Hajduk will meet Sibenik in the SuperSport Croatian Cup final on May 24 in Rijeka.

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March 1, 2023 - The teams in the SuperSport Croatian Cup semi-finals have been decided, with Slaven Belupo, Šibenik, Dinamo, and Hajduk as the final four left in the competition.

Slaven Belupo was the first to advance to the SuperSport Croatian Cup semi-finals. The first semi-final was played on Tuesday at the "Ivan Kušek Apaš" stadium in Koprivnica. Slaven Belupo beat the best second-division team, Rudeš 2:0. Belupo scored its first goal in the 88th minute after Benedik Mioč's shot bounced off the visiting defender Luka Pavković and into the net. Filip Hlevnjak scored for the final 2:0 in the first minute of stoppage time.

On Wednesday, the remaining three Croatian Cup quarter-final matches were played.

Šibenik reached the Croatian Cup semi-finals for the second time in the club's history, winning 2:0 away to the second league team NK BSK Bijelo Brdo. Knežević scored for Šibenik in the 20th minute and Arai in the 88th minute for the victory. 

In the next Cup quarter-final, Dinamo beat Lokomotiva after extra time 3:1 (1:1, 0:1) and qualified for the SuperSport Croatian Cup semi-finals. 

Lokomotiva took the lead with a goal by Silvio Goričan in the 37th minute, but Dario Špikić leveled the score at 1:1 in the second half, taking the game to extra time. Josip Drmić scored for Dinamo in the 47th second of extra time. Robert Ljubičić set the final result in the 117th minute. 

Hajduk was the last semi-finalist to qualify, beating Osijek 2:1 (1:0). Last season's Cup winner dominated most of the match. In the 21st minute, 16-year-old Luka Vušković scored for 1:0. In the 77th, Filip Krovinović scored for 2:0. Osijek's only goal was scored by 16-year-old Filip Živković, who made it 1:2 in the 84th minute. Interestingly, the young Hajduk player wrote the history of Hajduk and Croatian football in this quarter-final match. At 16 years and five days, Luka Vušković became the youngest scorer in the history of Hajduk's first team.

The draw for the semi-final meetings will take place next Monday.

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May 26, 2022 - Hajduk beat Rijeka 3:1 in the Croatian Cup final on Thursday at Poljud for their first trophy in 9 years!

Hajduk and Rijeka met in the Croatian Cup final tonight at a sold-out Poljud Stadium in Split. 

Interestingly, in all four Croatian Championship matches this season, Rijeka was more successful at Poljud (1:2 and 1:3), and Hajduk fought back at Rujevica, winning 2:3 last fall and 0:3 a few weeks ago. 

Rijeka last won the Cup two years ago, while Hajduk had been waiting for any trophy for nine years, last winning the Cup in 2013. 

Rijeka and Hajduk have won the Cup six times in independent Croatia.

Lineups

HAJDUK: L. Kalinić, Mikanović, Ferro, Elez, Melnjak, Fossati, Grgić, Sahiti, Krovinović, Mlakar, Livaja; Hajduk was without Nikola Kalinić due to a virus. 

RIJEKA: Labrović - Krešić, Velkovski, Smolčić - Ampem, Selahi, Čerin, Vukčević - Pavičić - Obregon, Drmić

Recap

Hajduk showed they were hungry already in the first two minutes of the match, maintaining possession with Melnjak taking the first shot on goal. Livaja shot over the crossbar a minute later. 

Rijeka found their rhythm in the next few minutes and pushed up into Hajduk's half. Hajduk had a good chance from a free kick in the 8th minute which Melnjak headed over the post. 

While Hajduk had the chances it was Rijeka to capitalize on theirs first. A breakaway for Drmić and a goal for 1:0 Rijeka. 

Hajduk had their first corner in the 16th minute and continued to push into Rijeka's half. Krovinović just missed the goal in the 20th minute. 

Hajduk had another corner a minute later. And another in the 23rd minute. Ferro equalized for Hajduk for 1:1 in the 24th minute! 

The match was back and forth for the next 5 minutes. Rijeka had a dangerous free kick in the 31st minute which deflected off of Hajduk’s defense and into Kalinić’s hands. 

Melnjak was found in the penalty area in the 33rd minute, though his shot deflected for another Hajduk corner. And then Melnjak finally got his chance - he scored for 1:2 Hajduk in the 36th minute! 

Smolcic was shown his second yellow in the 41st minute, forcing Rijeka to play with a man down for the remainder of the match. It was 1:2 for Hajduk at halftime. 

Hajduk had their first corner of the second half already in the 47th minute. And another in the 51st. The match was back and forth for the next 5 minutes until a tragic Rijeka mistake in the defense helped Melnjak to his second goal of the match for 1:3 Hajduk!

Another corner for Hajduk in the 60th minute - they were beginning to outclass Rijeka now. 

Mlakar was subbed off for Colina and Vukovic for Grgic as Hajduk's first subs 61st minute. 

Rijeka subbed off Lepinjica for Selahi and Muric for Pavicic a minute later. 

Livaja had a super chance in the 67th minute which went out for a corner. He was hungry to score. Another breakaway for Livaja moments later went over the post. 

Hajduk dominated for the next 10 minutes, leaving Rijeka without much of a chance to attack.  

Rijeka's first real chance of the second half came in the 80th minute but they shot over the goal. 

Sahiti was subbed off for Biuk moments later. 

Biuk forced a corner on his first touch in the 82nd minute. Livaja weakly shot to keep it 1:3 for Hajduk. 

Rijeka had a. corner in the 84th minute and Stanic was subbed off for Cerin. 

The match came to a halt in the 90th minute as Rijeka's fans launched flares into the VIP section. And the match came to an end - Hajduk is the Croatian Cup champion! 

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

October 29, 2021 - The Croatian Cup quarterfinal draw was held today, revealing some exciting meetings on December 1. 

When Rijeka and Oriolik play the remaining round of 16 match next month, we will know the final list of Croatian Cup quarterfinalists. However, the matchups have been revealed today in a draw for the quarterfinal games on December 1, reports Gol.hr.

The biggest news is that Dinamo has been drawn against Oriolik / Rijeka. Therefore, Dinamo will play at home, most likely against Rijeka, which will be a real treat after the intense championship matches between these two clubs this season.

Twice this season, Dinamo and Rijeka played 3:3, which makes this Cup meeting even more special. But, of course, Dinamo and Rijeka will meet only if Oriolik does not pull an upset. 

Dinamo and Hajduk also play at Maksimir that weekend in the Croatian championship, meaning that the HNL match could easily be postponed for some time in the spring.

Hajduk and Lokomotiva will meet once again in Zagreb. The match is scheduled for December 1, and it will be the 19th consecutive Cup match that Hajduk will play against Lokomotiva away.

In addition to the 2018 final match that was played in Vinkovci, this means that Hajduk did not play a total of 20 Cup games at Poljud stadium.

Hajduk played its last home game in the Cup five and a half years ago, or in March 2016 in the semifinal match against Dinamo.

It should also be said that Hajduk could not even host until the round of 16 due to the rules because the hosts are always lower-ranked clubs. As for the quarterfinal draw, this is now the seventh time in a row that it has gone to the away team. 

Quarterfinal matches (December 1):

Dinamo - Oriolik/Rijeka

Lokomotiva – Hajduk

Osijek - Slaven Belupo

Gorica - Istra 1961

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October 16,  2021 - The Croatian Football Cup round of 16 begins later this month with the 16 remaining teams in the competition. 

The Croatian Football Cup is the largest football competition in Croatia, which will soon begin with the round of 16 matches, reports Gol.hr. 

In this phase of the competition, there is no classic draw, but the pairs are determined in such a way that the lower-ranked clubs, according to the cup coefficient, host the stronger ones according to the principle that the weakest host is the strongest (32-1, 31-2, 30- 3, 29-4, 28-5).

The entire SuperSport Croatian Football Cup is played in one game, with a classic draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals, without any winners.

Round of 32

September 14

Nehaj - Gorica 3:7

September 15

Bednja Beletinec - Osijek 0:3

September 21

Pitomaca - Rijeka 0:7
Dugopolje - Lokomotiva 8:9 (after penalties)
Primorac Biograd na Moru - Hajduk 1:2
Vuteks Sloga - Istra 1961 0:3
Mladost Zdralovi - Inter Zapresic 3:1

September 22

Orient 1919 - Dinamo 1:4
Karlovac 1919 - Slaven Belupo 0:2
Međimurje - Šibenik 0:1
Rudar Labin - Split 2:0
Belisce - Jaska Vinogradar Jastrebarsko 4:0
Bjelovar - Rudeš 1:5
Sesvete - Varaždin 2: 3 (after extra time)
BSK Bijelo Brdo - Cibalia 1:0
Zagreb - Oriolik 0:1

Round of 16

October 26

13:00 Rudeš - Osijek
15:00 Belišće - Hajduk
17:30 Sibenik - Slaven Belupo

October 27

15:00 BSK Bijelo Brdo - Dinamo
15:00 Rudar Labin - Istria 1961
15:00 Gorica - Mladost Ždralovi
17:30 Varaždin - Lokomotiva

November 13

14:00 Oriolik Oriovac - Rijeka

The Croatian Cup quarterfinals will be played on December 1, the semifinals on March 2, 2022, and the final on May 26, 2022. 

SuperSport became the title sponsor of the Croatian Football Cup back in September, reports HNS.

The signing ceremony, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, was attended by the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, executive director of HNS Tomislav Svetina, members of the management board of SuperSport betting Goran Đurić and Radim Haluza, and president of VOX-football and editor-in-chief of HNTV and Ivan Blažičko. In addition to the title sponsorship of the competition, SuperSport will directly financially assist the host clubs in the round of 16 phase of the Cup.

"We thank SuperSport for recognizing the sporting and market value of the Croatian Football Cup. We are pleased that we will have even greater visibility of the competition across the country through television broadcasts and that through this partnership, we will directly help host clubs in organizing the match," said HNS president Marijan Kustić.

"The Croatian Football Cup deserves a title sponsor, and that is why we are looking forward to this cooperation with SuperSport. This is an important step in further commercializing the competition under the auspices of HNS, which confirms the exceptional popularity and potential of Croatian football," said Tomislav Svetina.

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