Bedem Ivankovo Ends Winless Run in Style, Stuns Čepin 3-1 to Shake Up Relegation Fight

IVANKOVO, Croatia — On a day when desperation trumped expectation, Bedem Ivankovo delivered a season-defining performance at Igralište Grac, surging past Čepin 3-1 for their first league victory—and a result that may yet breathe new life into the Third NL - Zapad’s fight for survival.

The hosts, anchored at the bottom of the table through seven rounds with a single point and nursing the wounds of a miserable campaign, entered Sunday as clear underdogs. Their offense, blunted for much of the autumn, had managed just one goal in their previous three matches, including a heavy 1-6 defeat at Svačić and a goalless stalemate with Borac Kneževi Vinogradi. The psychological weight of six winless matches was heavy. For Čepin, perched just above them in 15th, recent form brought faint hope after a composed 2-0 victory over Radnički Dalj, yet their own five losses underscored the stakes.

The opening whistle found Bedem Ivankovo intent on rewriting the script. Roared on by the faithful, they pressed aggressively from midfield, disrupting Čepin’s early rhythm. The breakthrough arrived midway through the first half. Bedem’s right winger darted to the byline and fizzed in a low cross that ricocheted off a defender, falling kindly for forward Marko Petrović, who swept home from close range. The eruption in the stands signaled not just relief, but belief—a long-absent companion for home supporters.

Čepin, staggered but resilient, responded with a spell of possession that led to an equalizer before halftime. A clever exchange on the edge of the box released Ivan Kovačević, whose precise finish tucked inside the far post. At 1-1, the match seemed poised to mirror the teams’ tight league proximity.

But returning from the break, Bedem Ivankovo showed a resolve rarely seen this season. Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts retook the lead after a slick attacking move. Midfield orchestrator Luka Župan split the defense with a through-ball, allowing left back Damir Horvat to surge forward and square for captain Stjepan Barišić. A deft touch and low strike restored the advantage, sending the home bench into celebration.

Čepin’s frustration boiled over minutes later when a clumsy challenge in midfield earned their center-back a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to ten men. The numerical disadvantage proved insurmountable. Bedem, sensing their moment, pressed the attack and found a decisive third goal through substitute Ivan Blažević, who latched onto a loose ball at the top of the box and curled a left-footed shot past the stranded goalkeeper.

For Bedem Ivankovo, the final whistle marked a seismic shift—not only in mood, but in the standings. Their haul rises to four points, narrowing the gap to Čepin and re-injecting purpose into their season. Čepin, meanwhile, remain precariously perched on six points, now staring directly into the abyss of the relegation spots with their nearest rival closing fast.

Head-to-head, these matchups have generally been close-run affairs, but today’s emphatic display broke the pattern and gave Bedem Ivankovo their first league win against Čepin in recent years, adding a sharp twist to an already tense bottom-of-the-table narrative.

With the campaign nearly a third gone, both teams know the margin for error has vanished. For Bedem Ivankovo, Sunday’s victory is more than three points—it is a revival, a promise to their supporters that all is not yet lost. Next week brings another test, but for a club that had forgotten the sweet taste of victory, today’s triumph will echo far beyond the walls of Igralište Grac.

Čepin, meanwhile, return to the training ground with urgent questions to answer. Their defensive frailty and late indiscipline were brutally exposed, and the road to safety just became far steeper. Every fixture from here is a battle for survival.

As autumn deepens over Slavonia, the Third NL - Zapad’s relegation fight is suddenly, and thrillingly, alive.