Kustošija Makes Statement With Commanding 3-0 Victory Over Bjelovar, Tightens Grip on Promotion Race

In a crisp Zagreb afternoon tinted with the anticipation of autumn, NK Kustošija delivered a performance that spoke volumes about their promotion ambitions, dispatching struggling Bjelovar 3-0 at Stadion Kustošija. For the home side, it was a showcase of poise and purpose; for the visitors, another bruising chapter in a season fraying at the seams.

The contest’s opening stanza unfolded with Kustošija asserting their intentions from the first whistle. Methodical in possession and patient in their build-up, the hosts pressed for an early advantage. That breakthrough arrived just past the quarter-hour mark, setting the tone for the afternoon. A sweeping move down the flank, capped by a clinical finish in the 17th minute, not only sent the crowd into raptures but also forced Bjelovar onto their heels, compelled to chase the game from an early juncture.

As the match wore on, Bjelovar found themselves stretched and searching for cohesion. Kustošija, meanwhile, managed the tempo adeptly, blending defensive solidity with measured forays into attack. The second goal, arriving in the 66th minute, was the product of sustained pressure. Kustošija’s interplay around the penalty area left Bjelovar’s defense scrambling, and the finish—calm and assured—doubled the hosts’ lead, effectively sealing the fate of three points.

Any hope of a late Bjelovar rally disintegrated in the 80th minute. A moment of frustration culminated in a straight red card for a Bjelovar player, reducing the visitors to ten men and dousing whatever remained of their comeback aspirations. The closing stages saw Kustošija exploit their numerical advantage, capping the day’s work with a third goal in stoppage time—an exclamation mark on a performance that underlined their credentials as genuine contenders.

For Kustošija, this result represents more than just three points. With two consecutive victories—a resounding 4-1 win at Segesta Sisak preceding today’s masterclass—they have now amassed 14 points from seven matches, consolidating third place in the Second NL and keeping pace with the league’s frontrunners. The home side’s recent run, featuring four wins in five outings and a lone setback to Jadran LP, suggests a team in ascendance, one increasingly adept at navigating the pressure and expectation that come with a promotion push.

“I’m proud of the way we controlled the match, especially given what’s at stake this season,” Kustošija’s manager said post-match, his team’s tactical maturity evident across every phase. The blend of defensive discipline, creative spark, and clinical finishing has proven a winning formula of late, with Kustošija looking not only to maintain their position near the summit but also to chase down the top two as the autumn calendar intensifies.

Bjelovar’s story is a different one. With just five points from seven games and now mired in 13th place, the visitors are staring down a campaign defined by struggle. Today’s defeat extended a barren run that has seen them pick up just a single point from their last four league matches, conceding ten goals in that span. The red card, symbolic of mounting frustration, only deepened the sense of a side in disarray.

For Bjelovar, the path forward is fraught—defensive frailties and attacking inefficiency have left them searching for answers. Their lone victory this season, a hard-fought 1-0 win at Đakovo-Croatia, already feels distant, and back-to-back defeats—0-4 at Lučko, 0-1 to Uskok Klis—have compounded the urgency for change. With the relegation zone looming, each fixture now carries increasing weight.

As the final whistle sounded, the emotions on both benches could hardly have been more contrasting. Kustošija, emboldened by a comprehensive win and the rise up the table it affords, now looks ahead to a run of fixtures that could further anchor their promotion drive. For Bjelovar, the calculus is starker: regroup, recalibrate, and hope that the lessons from an afternoon in Zagreb can be transformed into resilience before the campaign’s winter grind.

In the cold arithmetic of the league table, today’s result is clear: Kustošija’s momentum is gathering, while Bjelovar’s struggles persist. But in the broader narrative of a long season, both teams woke up this morning with something to prove. Only one left Stadion Kustošija with their story strengthened.