Zagorec vs Tigar Sveta Nedelja Match Recap - Oct 11, 2025

Tigar Sveta Nedelja Stuns Leaders Zagorec With Gritty 1-0 Upset to Shake Up Third NL Sredite Title Picture

PODGORA, Croatia — In the brisk autumn air at ŠRC Podgora, Zagorec’s unbeaten march atop the Third NL Sredite hit an unexpected roadblock Saturday afternoon. Tigar Sveta Nedelja, mired in mid-table obscurity before kickoff, orchestrated a defensive masterclass and snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory that sent tremors through the league’s hierarchy.

On a day when Zagorec’s precision faltered and Tigar’s resolve crystallized, the division’s leaders suffered just their second loss in eight matches. Tigar Sveta Nedelja, seeking identity and points after a sputtering start to the campaign, found both in a steely performance that belied their position in 10th and reminded the rest of the division that even favorites must guard against complacency.

A Match Defined by Margins

From the outset, the rhythm of the match threatened to mirror the league table: Zagorec’s ball circulation was crisp, their intent clear, their home supporters loud and expectant. Yet for all their dominance in possession, clear-cut chances proved elusive. Tigar’s compact defensive lines, anchored by their resolute center-backs, repelled wave after wave of attack with a determination that turned ŠRC Podgora’s atmosphere from buoyant to anxious.

The lone, decisive moment arrived midway through the second half. Against the flow, Tigar capitalized on a rare foray forward as midfielder Filip Kovačević, the afternoon’s unlikely hero, intercepted a loose pass in midfield and surged past two defenders. His angled shot from just inside the box beat Zagorec’s goalkeeper Ivica Horvat to the far corner, silencing the home stands and etching his name into the club’s growing lore. It was Kovačević’s first goal of the season—a timely breakthrough for a side that had previously struggled for attacking inspiration.

Zagorec’s response was frantic if not fruitful. Head coach Marko Leko rang the tactical changes, introducing striker Luka Perić in a bid to salvage the afternoon. But Tigar’s back line, well-marshaled by captain Ivan Brajković, absorbed the pressure and limited Zagorec to speculative efforts from distance. The hosts’ best chance to equalize came in stoppage time, when winger Dario Petrović forced an acrobatic save from Tigar’s keeper Matija Pavlović with a swerving free kick. The final whistle drew a chorus of relieved cheers from the Tigar bench, matched by a collective groan from the stands.

Shifting Tides in the League Table

The result punctures what had been an air of invincibility around Zagorec, who remain in first place on 18 points (6W-0D-2L) but now feel the hot breath of pursuers in the standings. Having begun the campaign with a six-match unbeaten run, the Krapina-based side has now dropped two of its last three, following last month’s home setback to Samobor with another home defeat.

Tigar Sveta Nedelja, meanwhile, climb to 8th place on 11 points, breathing new life into a campaign that risked drifting into mediocrity after a pair of disheartening draws. Their back-to-back road performances—a gritty 0-0 draw at Gaj followed by today’s impressive win—hint at a team discovering its defensive spine and a knack for disrupting more fancied opponents.

Recent Form and Head-to-Head Dynamics

For Zagorec, the loss exposes a nagging vulnerability at home. Once fortress-like, ŠRC Podgora has lately become a place of anxiety, with supporters watching as the side has taken just three points from the last possible six on their own turf. The sting is acute for a club that had hoped a string of early-season victories—such as last week’s nervy 2-1 win at Ponikve—would propel them toward an untouchable lead in the division.

Tigar Sveta Nedelja, on the other hand, have now claimed their most significant scalp of the campaign. Their last victory before today’s shock came against Maksimir, yet inconsistency—highlighted by two draws and three defeats—had kept them from climbing the table. There was little in their recent head-to-head history to suggest an upset, but today they flipped the script.

Implications for the Season’s Remainder

For Zagorec, the defeat is both a wake-up call and an inflection point. With the chasing pack sensing vulnerability, the lead at the summit, once comfortable, suddenly feels provisional. Head coach Leko must quickly address his side’s creative malaise and rediscover the tactical clarity that fueled their early surge.

Tigar Sveta Nedelja, conversely, will take heart from a performance that fused tactical discipline with opportunistic attack. Their season, once adrift, now has a purpose: to climb out of the relegation mire and prove that today’s result was no fluke, but a foundation for genuine progress.

The road ahead is uncertain for both. But on an autumn afternoon in Podgora, the script was rewritten—and the race at the top of Third NL Sredite just became a whole lot more interesting.