Rijeka defeated Rudeš 2-1 (1-0) in the first match of the 10th round of the Croatian First Football League (HNL) as visitors in Velika Gorica. The guests took the lead in the 5th minute, with the final confirmation of victory coming in the 74th minute. Rudeš managed to ease the defeat only in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Samuele Vignato put Rijeka ahead in the 5th minute. He received the ball on the left side of the attack, walked through the static home defence and defeated goalkeeper Rogić with a precise shot. Rudeš had their best chance to equalise in the 41st minute when El Haddad ran down the left flank and played a return pass for Fernandes, but the latter missed from an excellent position seven metres out.
Two minutes later, Fruk shot from an angle from the right side after a cross from Vignato, but hit the home goalkeeper in the head. Rijeka players had been dangerous earlier too — Fruk hit the post with a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 17th minute.
The key moment of the match came in the second half. Celjak stopped Ado-Adjeić with a foul 25 metres from his own goal, after which referee Škobić showed a red card. VAR called the referee to review his decision to send off the player, but the referee stood by his decision even after the review. Fruk then extended the lead to 2-0 in the 74th minute with an excellent free-kick.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Vekić first saved a home attempt, but then Poldrugač crossed into the penalty area where young Skoko reacted brilliantly to shake the net for the second consecutive game, setting the final score at 2-1.
With this victory, Rijeka leaped to third place with 17 points. They have two points less than leaders Hajduk and one point less than second-placed Varaždin, who will play each other on Sunday. Meanwhile, Rijeka has one point more than fourth-placed Dinamo.
Rudeš remained ninth with seven points, the same as eighth-placed Lokomotiva. Gorica is last with two points less. Matches are played on Saturday: Lokomotiva - Istra 1961 (15:00) and Osijek - Gorica (18:00), and on Sunday: Hajduk - Varaždin (15:00) and Slaven Belupo - Dinamo (18:00).
