Futsal side Rijeka began their defence of the Croatian Cup title with a 10:4 victory over Universitas in the round of 16. The match was played at the Centar Zamet arena in front of 400 spectators, with Malbašić (Dugo Selo), Solenički (Jastrebarsko) and Jambrović (Jastrebarsko) officiating.
The first half ended 3:2. Rafinha scored the opening goal in the sixth minute with a left-footed volley to make it 1:0. Skoko equalised in the 12th minute to make it 1:1 after Rijeka’s defence handled a corner poorly. Govorko beat Husarić in the 18th minute and sent the ball past Tomić to give the visitors a 1:2 lead. Suton scored in the 19th minute to make it 2:2 following a return pass from Rafinha, and Rafinha scored five seconds before the end of the first half to give the Rijeka players a 3:2 lead.
In the second minute of the second half, goalkeeper Tomić joined the attack and scored Rijeka’s fourth goal to make it 4:2. Poljarić scored in the 22nd minute with the tip of his boot after Savio lost possession to make it 4:3, and Tustonjić broke through the Rijeka defence in the 25th minute to score and level at 4:4. Kamauli scored a minute later to give the Whites a new 5:4 lead.
Luka Suton scored in the 29th minute following a combination with Rafinha to make it 6:4, and then chipped the ball in the 30th minute to make it 7:4 as the final quarter of the match began. Kamauli scored his second goal of the match in the 33rd minute to remove all doubt and make it 8:4. Savio increased the lead to 9:4 in the 36th minute, and Matijević set the final score at 10:4 in the 40th minute.
Poljarić and Crnjac of Universitas, and Kamauli of Rijeka, received yellow cards. Rijeka played with the following lineup: Tomić, Bilić, Suton, Savio, Rosić, Saaf, Milić, Matijević, Rafinha, Husarić, Lučić, Kamauli, Beno. Universitas played with the following lineup: Stojkić, Poljarić, Crnjac, Gotovac, Barišić, Krželj, Mijić, Ademi, Jedvaj, Pažanin, Anić, Skoko, Govorko, Tustonjić.
The Split-based first division side offered good resistance to the favoured Rijeka team for the first half hour of the match, but the Rijeka players secured a convincing victory in the final ten minutes. Coach Alen Jukić decided to give a number of young players from the Rijeka bench a chance in the closing stages.
